Mariners pick up one, lose four in the Rule 5 Draft

As expected, the Mariners have lost Tacoma outfielder Jabari Blash, 26, in the Rule 5 Draft which was held Thursday morning at the Winter Meetings. Blash was selected by the Oakland A’s and shortly after sent to the Padres to complete the Yonder Alonso trade.

In order to make a selection in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, a team must have an open spot on their 40-man roster, which the Mariners did not. A player selected in the Major League phase must remain on the selecting team’s 25-man roster for the entire season or be offered back to his original team for $25,000.

Blash, who has been in the organization since 2010, hit .271/.370/.576/.946 splitting time between Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma last year. He hit 32 home runs but struck out 123 times in 116 games. There is a decent chance he will be returned as it is tough for a team to carry a Rule 5 position player for the entire season.

The Mariners made one selection in the minor league phase of the draft: Right-handed pitcher Isaac Sanchez from the Pirates. Sanchez, 22, pitched at High A Bradenton last season, putting up a 2.71 ERA in 42 appearances.

The Mariners lost a trio of players in the Triple-A phase of the draft: RHP Logan Bawcom and OF Julio Morban to the Dodgers and LHP Brian Moran to the Indians.

The completion of the Rule 5 Draft marks the end of the Winter Meetings.