Warren claimed as Mariners clear roster spot

SEATTLE -- Mariners reliever Art Warren was claimed off waivers by the Rangers on Wednesday, as general manager Jerry Dipoto continued clearing space on Seattle’s 40-man roster heading into the offseason.

Warren was the Mariners’ No. 25 prospect per MLB Pipeline, but the 27-year-old right-hander never pitched for Seattle this past season while working out at the club’s alternate training site. Warren threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits, two walks and five strikeouts in six appearances with the Mariners as a September callup in 2019 after posting a 1.71 ERA with 15 saves in 29 outings for Double-A Arkansas.

Warren was recalled from the alternate training site on Aug. 18, but he didn’t play and was optioned back on Aug. 19. He also was included on the Mariners’ traveling taxi squad late in the season, but he was never activated.

With Warren’s departure, third baseman Tyler Keenan -- the club’s fourth-round Draft pick last June out of Mississippi -- moved into the Mariners’ Top 30 prospect list, at No. 30.

The Mariners’ 40-man roster now is at 33, and another spot will open when reliever Yoshihisa Hirano becomes a free agent next week at the conclusion of the World Series. Seattle also has two other veterans -- second baseman Dee Strange-Gordon and right-hander Kendall Graveman -- who will become free agents unless the Mariners pick up their contract options for 2021.

But Dipoto needs to open room for players currently on the 60-day injured list who will need to either be reinstated to the 40-man or designated for assignment by five days after the World Series ends. The Mariners ended the season with eight players on the 60-day IL: outfielder Mitch Haniger, catcher Tom Murphy and pitchers Gerson Bautista, Nestor Cortes, Taylor Guilbeau, Andrés Muñoz, Matt Magill and Carl Edwards Jr.