Cade Marlowe Looks to Revive MLB Career with Oakland Athletics After Mariners Exit
Cade Marlowe may have briefly fooled some Seattle Mariners fans in 2023 into believing he could be the team’s everyday left fielder. Now, he’s looking for a fresh start with one of Seattle’s division rivals.
Hot Start, Then a Sudden Drop-Off
Marlowe burst onto the scene with the Mariners, hitting .333 with a .979 OPS in his first 17 games during the 2023 season. However, he played just 17 more games before being optioned back to Triple-A. Since then, he has appeared in only eight major league games over the past two years.
After the Mariners designated Marlowe for assignment early last year, he elected free agency in November. Although it happened last month, news recently surfaced that the 28-year-old is aiming to continue his major league career with another AL West team.
New Opportunity with the Oakland Athletics
On Monday, the official Major League Baseball transactions log updated to show that Marlowe signed a minor-league deal with the Oakland Athletics on December 19. The contract presumably includes an invitation to major league spring training. This move gives Marlowe hope of cracking the Athletics’ big league roster.
Solid Triple-A Numbers Despite Limited Action
While injuries limited him to just 52 minor-league games in 2023, Marlowe put up impressive numbers in the offensively-charged Pacific Coast League. He slashed .316/.404/.471 with 16 extra-base hits, including four home runs.
One notable strength is his ability to steal bases. Marlowe has swiped 162 bases in 524 career minor-league games. Against big league pitchers and catchers, he has been less prolific, going 4-for-6 in stolen base attempts.
Path to the Majors Opens with Athletics
The Athletics, more than the Mariners, have a potential opening for a fourth outfielder—a role Marlowe could seize with a strong spring. Given Seattle’s recent playoff success and their crowded outfield depth chart, Marlowe’s path back to the majors would have been difficult to navigate had he stayed.
The Athletics are the first new organization Marlowe has joined since the Mariners drafted him out of West Georgia in the 20th round back in 2019.
Stay tuned to see if Marlowe can make the most of his new opportunity in Oakland.
https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/mariners-lose-28-year-old-free-agent-to-rival-athletics-jackson3
