Mariners Designate Jack Cust For Assignment, Activate Erik Bedard

The Seattle Mariners have designated Jack Cust for assignment, according to ESPN Radio in Seattle. (I was going to write "designated designated hitter Jack Cust for assignment, but that wouldn't have read very well.)

In a corresponding roster move, the Mariners activated lefthander Erik Bedard from the disabled list; Bedard is scheduled to start Friday night's game against the Rays at Safeco Field (in what may amount to a try-out for the scouts from teams that might be interested in trading for him).

Cust, who hit 25 or more home runs and drew 93 or more walks for three consecutive years with the Athletics from 2007-2009, simply wasn't hitting for Seattle; in 270 plate appearances this season his line is just .213/.344/.329, with only three home runs.

Adam Kennedy, who, honestly, isn't hitting much better (.253/.297/.386 with seven home runs in 309 plate appearances), is likely to take over DH duties ... but lurking in the wings is Wily Mo Peña, signed Wednesday to a minor-league deal by Seattle. Pena hit just .196 in 46 at-bats for the Diamondbacks, but with five home runs, producing a .522 slugging percentage.

Peña first reports to Triple-A Tacoma but might soon be hitting home runs in Seattle. In a season that so quickly turned sour for the Mariners, Peña would, at least, be fun to watch.