Mariners' Shaffer claimed off waivers by Phillies

SEATTLE -- Richie Shaffer, a third baseman/outfielder acquired by the Mariners from the Rays last month, was claimed off waivers by the Phillies on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old North Carolina native, who also has played some first base during his pro career, was designated for assignment last Wednesday to open a 40-man roster spot when the Mariners traded for Giants right-hander Chris Heston.
Shaffer was acquired by Seattle in a November deal with Tampa Bay along with utility man Taylor Motter in exchange for Minor Leaguers Andrew Kittredge, Dalton Kelly and Dylan Thompson.
Shaffer played in 51 games for the Rays over the past two seasons, posting a .213/.310/.410 line with five home runs and 10 RBIs in 142 plate appearances. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was the Rays' Minor League Player of the Year in 2015 after hitting 26 homers and 72 RBIs while splitting time between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, including .270 with 19 home runs in 69 games at the higher level. But those numbers slipped to .227 with 11 homers in 119 games in Triple-A this past season.
Shaffer, a first-round Draft pick (25th overall) by the Rays in 2012 out of Clemson, also started at third base and hit cleanup for the U.S. team in the 2015 All-Star Futures Game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
With the Rays, the versatile corner man played in 21 games at first base, 12 at third base and four in right field, but over the course of his Minor League career, he's been primarily a third baseman, with some duty at first base and right field.
Shaffer is the second Mariners player lost to a waiver claim this week. Right-hander Zach Lee was claimed off waivers by the Padres on Tuesday.