Seattle Mariners designate Corey Hart for assignment

By Phil Watson | Sep 29, 2014

Jul 29, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino (3) and right fielder Corey Hart (27) celebrate after scoring on a double by left fielder Dustin Ackley (not pictured) in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

The Seattle Mariners on Monday designated outfielder Corey Hart for assignment, presumably to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for suspended catcher Jesus Montero.

The move was announced on the Mariners’ official website. Montero was activated from the suspended list, according to the Associated Press.

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Hart joined the M’s as a free agent last winter on a one-year, $6 million deal in hopes he could get his career back on track after knee injuries sidelined him for the entire 2013 season with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he was penciled in as the replacement for

Prince Fielder

at first base.

Instead, Hart was limited to 68 games and had two stints on the disabled list with hamstring and knee problems. He hit just .203/.271/.319 with six home runs and 21 RBI.

The 32-year-old Hart was a two-time All-Star with Milwaukee, clubbing 154 homers in nine seasons and topping the 30-home run mark twice.

But he wound up having surgery on both of his knees after the 2012 season and didn’t play a game in 2013.

Hart would have become a free agent at the end of the World Series, but the Mariners have opted to give him a head start.

Montero, meanwhile, continued to look more like suspect than prospect in 2014. He played just six games for the Mariners this season, going 4-for-17 with a homer and two RBI and spent most of the season at Triple-A Tacoma.

He was suspended Sept. 1 after a confrontation with former Mariners scout Butch Baccala at a minor-league game in Boise, Idaho.

Montero was acquired in January 2012 along with pitcher Hector Noesi in the deal that sent right-hander Michael Pineda to the New York Yankees.

He hit .260/.298/.386 in 135 games as a rookie in 2012, with 15 homers and 62 RBI, but struggled in 2013, hitting only .208/.264/.327 in 29 games before being sent back to Triple-A.

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