Nori Aoki signs with Seattle

The free-agent outfielder reportedly has agreed to a one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners confirmed Wednesday reports that they sent outfielder/first baseman Mark Trumbo and left-hander C.J. Riefenhauser to the Baltimore Orioles for catcher Steve Clevenger.

[...] Seattle completed a Nov. 16 trade with Texas, sending Triple-A outfielder/infielder Patrick Kivlehan as the player to be named in a trade in which the Mariners acquired outfielder Leonys Martin and right-handed pitcher Anthony Bass for right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen and outfielder James Jones.

Aoki was limited to 93 games with the Giants in 2015 because of a broken right leg and a severe concussion.

San Francisco, which turned down a $5.5 million option on Aoki, said Aoki was healthy and the injuries did not play a role in the decision to decline the option.

McGwire becomes rookie manager Andy Green’s right-hand man in the dugout after spending the last three seasons as hitting coach of the Dodgers.

Before that, McGwire was hitting coach of the Cardinals for three seasons following a hiatus after his steroid-tainted playing career ended.

Catcher A.J. Ellis agreed to a $4.5 million, one-year contract to return to the Dodgers, avoiding arbitration.

Kansas City acquired backup catcher Tony Cruz from St. Louis for minor-league infielder Jose Martinez while designating catcher Francisco Peña for assignment. ...