Seattle exercises Seth Smith option, declines Chris Iannetta
Exercised The Seattle Mariners have exercised their $7 million option on outfielder Seth Smith for 2017 while declining their $4.25 million option on catcher Chris Iannetta. Seattle also reinstated Nathan Karns from the 60-day disabled list Thursday and said outfielder Nori Aoki was claimed off waivers by Houston. Smith has been a key contributor in his two seasons since arriving from San Diego. Smith hit .249 with 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 63 RBIs in 137 games with Seattle this season.
The San Francisco Giants have exercised starting pitcher Matt Moore’s $7 million option for 2017. The Giants acquired the left-hander at the trade deadline from Tampa Bay. Moore went 6-5 with a 4.08 ERA in 12 starts after joining San Francisco.
The Nationals have exercised their $12 million option on left-hander Gio Gonzalez. The 31-year-old Gonzalez was 11-11 with a 4.57 ERA this season, throwing 177 1/3 innings in 32 starts.
Outfielder Jay Bruce’s $13 million option has been exercised by the New York Mets, who also exercised an option on infielder Jose Reyes for next year’s major league minimum. New York also declined a $10.5 million option on Jon Niese and will play a $500,000 buyout to the left-hander, who becomes a free agent.
The Texas Rangers have exercised their $5.25 million club option for next season on catcher Jonathan Lucroy and will extend a $17.2 million qualifying offer to All-Star outfielder Ian Desmond.
Traded The Los Angeles Angels acquired veteran outfielder Cameron Maybin from the Detroit Tigers on Thursday in a trade for right-hander Victor Alcantara. The Angels also announced they will exercise Maybin’s $9 million contract option for 2017.
Hired The Minnesota Twins have named Thad Levine as general manager under new chief baseball officer Derek Falvey in their attempt to rebound from a club-worst 59-103 record. Levine was the assistant general manager of the Texas Rangers for the last 11 seasons.
Suspended The Oregon Ducks have suspended linebacker Eddie Heard indefinitely following his arrest on misdemeanor assault and harassment charges. The University of Oregon Police Department said in a release that Heard punched a woman in the face outside of a Eugene bar early Sunday morning. There were multiple witnesses, the release said.
Resigned USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo will not seek a third term, instead focusing on his role as managing director of the men’s national team program. Colangelo said Thursday that he will concentrate on the transition from coach Mike Krzyzewski to Gregg Popovich and building the player pool for the competition cycle through the 2020 Olympics.
Sidelined Arizona forward Ray Smith will sit out a third straight season after tearing his right ACL for the second time in a year. Smith was injured in the No. 10 Wildcats’ exhibition game against College of Idaho on Tuesday night, his first game since tearing both of his ACLs over the previous two seasons.