Baseball Canada | Reitsma signs with Mariners, Guiel goes to Japan

January 08, 2007

Reitsma signs with Mariners, Guiel goes to Japan

Former Canadian National Junior Team member and World Baseball Classic team member Chris Reitsma signed a one-year, US$2.05 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. Reitsma, who is coming off elbow surgery, was 1-2 with an 8.68 ERA in 27 games with the Atlanta Braves last season before succumbing to injury.

Reitsma will assume the Mariners' setup role for closer J.J. Putz. Seattle, which has finished last in the AL West for three consecutive seasons, traded 2006 setup man Rafael Soriano to the Braves for starting pitcher Horacio Ramirez earlier this off-season.

Langley, B.C. native Aaron Guiel has signed a contract with the Yakult Swallows in Japan. Guiel hit .242 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 2006 splitting time between the Kansas City Royals (19 games) and the New York Yankees (44 games).

Guiel played for Canada in the World Baseball Classic this past spring and wore Canada’s colors at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg.

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