Mariners trade for Ellison
OAKLAND, Calif. – Jason Ellison is going home, and the San Francisco Giants parted ways with the popular outfielder Sunday in the best possible way: dealing him to the Seattle Mariners.
San Francisco acquired left-hander Travis Blackley in the trade and assigned him to Triple-A Fresno to start the season.
“I’m actually extremely excited about it,” said Ellison, who lives in Issaquah, Wash., during the offseason and played at South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard. “My childhood dream was to be a Mariner. Hopefully it’s a good opportunity for me.”
Ellison, who turns 29 on Wednesday, will be on the Mariners’ 25-man roster and should have quite a contingent of fans for today’s opener at Safeco Field against the Oakland Athletics. Some even joked he might be able to catch a ride on Oakland’s charter plane after the A’s hosted the Giants in the final exhibition game for both clubs Sunday afternoon.
Ellison was called into the clubhouse by manager Bruce Bochy less than an hour before the game. The Giants’ decision came down to keeping Ellison or backup first baseman Lance Niekro after the club placed outfielder-first baseman Mark Sweeney on the disabled list earlier Sunday with a bruised right foot. The Sweeney move is retroactive to Thursday, one day after he fouled a ball off his foot. Sweeney, who said his injury isn’t serious, had been considered the odd man out.
“It’s pretty positive,” said Ellison, who was waiting to talk to the Mariners. “I’m glad to be in this situation and get a chance to play.”
Ellison helped his cause by hitting .390 with five doubles and nine RBIs in 25 spring games, drawing nine walks, stealing two bases and scoring 14 runs.
When Niekro saw Ellison get called off the field during batting practice, he figured Ellison had been traded. There were a handful of teams interested in the speedy Ellison, who can be a threat on the basepaths with his athleticism.
For Niekro, the Giants’ second-round draft pick in 2000, making the club completed a whirlwind six months since the season ended that included the sudden death of his former major leaguer father, Joe, on Oct. 27 of a brain aneurysm at age 61.
Blackley, a 24-year-old native of Australia, started 25 games at Double-A San Antonio and two at Triple-A Tacoma last season. The one-time top Seattle prospect missed all of 2005 after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.