Seattle Mariners sign former fifth-round pick to minor league deal

The Seattle Mariners will have to wait until the day after the World Series ends to officially begin their free agency. And while fans will likely hold their breath to see what the club is doing to improve its major league status, the minor league participants have also changed.

On October 15, the Mariners took advantage of the opportunity to add the Tacoma Rainiers to their Triple-A club.

Seattle signed 2018 fifth-round pick and former Nick Dunn to a minor league contract and immediately assigned him to the team’s Triple-A affiliate the same day.

Dunn is listed as a third baseman on his MiLB.com profile page, but has also played second base in his career.

Dunn, a former University of Maryland infielder and first-team All-Big Ten selection, has spent every single year of his career in the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm system, the same team that drafted him.

Despite being selected in the first five rounds of the draft, Dunn experienced a slow rise through the Cardinals’ organization. He didn’t make it to Triple-A until the second half of 2023.

Dunn played all of 2024 for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds in St. Louis. He hit .316 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 98 games. Dunn was a second baseman, third baseman and designated hitter for the Redbirds. He committed eight errors in 170 total chances (.953 fielding). He was released by Memphis on September 26.

Dunn’s signing probably doesn’t mean much to the major league club. Tacoma will likely need a few roster spots depending on what happens with some fringe major league players like Leo Rivas, Dominic Canzone and Ryan Bliss and other players like Jason Vosler who decide to hit free agency.

But his positions are still fascinating. The Mariners need a second baseman and a third baseman. Dunn plays both.

It’s unlikely he’ll get an extended look or even get an invite to spring training.

But when he does, it will be interesting to see how striking he looks. If he even does it.

MARINERS TOP PROSPECT TALKS ABOUT BEING IN THE ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE: Seattle Mariners prospect Colt Emerson joined the Foul Territory Podcast on Thursday to talk about the offseason and his focus on competing in the Arizona Fall League. CLICK HERE

MARINERS prospect re-signs to minor league contract: The Seattle Mariners maintained their minor league depth by signing a former South Florida product and the Detroit Tigers to a minor league deal on Wednesday. CLICK HERE

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