The offseason news you’ve all been waiting for: Mariners claim infielder Kaleb Cowart off waivers

Former Angels GM Jerry Dipoto, and now Mariners GM, is doing it again. Acquiring previously rostered players on his teams! This time, it’s utility infielder Kaleb Cowart going to the Mariners in a waiver wire claim.

Although Cowart was nearly drafted as a pitcher coming out of high school, he is not the hitter-pitcher combo that the Mariners were targeting, but alas, here we are. The Mariners have an interesting plan with him, but it’s also interesting that he will take up a 40-man roster spot while learning how to pitch again.

Cowart, 26, was a former top prospect in a once-barren Angels system. Drafted in 2010 and debuting five years later, he has put up abysmal numbers at the plate but shined in the field with his versatility, playing five positions on the field in the big leagues: first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and left field. That versatility, unfortunately, has not overcome his woes at the plate, slashing .177/.241/.293 across his MLB career for a measly 46 wRC+, on a percentage scale where 100 is average and higher is better.

We wish the best of luck to Kaleb Cowart, our Bovine Picasso.