truebluefan

Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Bill Bavasi announced today that the Mariners acquired Minor League outfielder Jeff Frazier from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Yorman Bazardo.

Bazardo had been designated for assignment on Jan. 30, when the Mariners added pitcher Jeff Weaver to the Major League, 40-man roster.

Frazier, 24, has spent the past three seasons in the Tigers' Minor League system. In 2006, he slugged 21 doubles and 13 home runs while driving in 73 and swiping 12 bases in 15 attempts at Lakeland (A). That came on the heals of his 2005 season that saw him hit .287 with 45 doubles, 12 home runs and 81 RBI with W. Michigan (A) in his first full pro season. He hit .304 with 5 doubles and a home run in 20 games with Oneonta in his debut year (2004) before being sidelined by a fractured left forearm.

In his three professional seasons, Frazier is 30-for-37 in stolen base attempts. In 2005, Jeff led the Midwest League in games (137) and doubles (45) and tied for the league lead in extra-base hits (61). Following the 2004 season Baseball America rated the 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-handed hitter as possessing the "best outfield arm" in the Detroit organization.

Frazier was the Tigers third-round selection in the 2004 June draft out of Rutgers University. During the 2004 college season he was an All-Big East Conference selection after leading the league in batting average at .382. He finished his junior year with 16 doubles, 13 home runs and 59 RBI to go with the .382 average and was tabbed second team All-American by Baseball America and USA Today Sports Weekly. He left Rutgers as the school's all-time home run leader with 34.

Bazardo was 6-5, 3.64 in 25 starts with Double-A San Antonio last season.