A part of the trade that sent J.J. Putz to the New York Mets, Mike Carp is still waiting for the Seattle Mariners to call his number.That day could soon come for the 22-year-old left-handed bat that the Mariners are longing to have in a lineup dominated by right-handers.
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In 136 at bats for the Mariner’s triple-A team, the Tacoma Rainiers, Carp has swung the bat well as he has a .301 batting average with eight home runs. His .415 On Base Percentage is another positive.
Carp is one of many sluggers in the Mariners organizational depth chart for first base including Russell Branyan and Mike Sweeney who top the list of many.
But with Branyan and Sweeney free agents after the 2009 season, Carp just might see his name on Don Wakamatsu’s lineup card at first base.
A ninth-round 2004 MLB draft selection by the New York Mets, his slugging percentage (.566) is higher than it's ever been.
Will he be on the Mariners in 2009? At least a September call up, but if Branyan or Sweeney is placed on the disabled list, his name is sure to be thrown around.
Reach Ben Brown at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
