The Mariners optioned Hunt to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Hunt entered spring camp as the fourth catcher on Seattle's 40-man roster, immediately making it unlikely the 25-year-old would break camp with the MLB squad. He performed well upon arriving at Triple-A for the first time last season, slashing .261/.315/.513 across 127 plate appearances. If Hunt gets hot at the plate again this season or the Mariners run into depth issues behind the dish, Hunt may have a shot at making his MLB debut this year.
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Mariners' Blake Hunt: Moved to Seattle
Rotowire
The Mariners acquired Hunt from the Rays on Monday in exchange for catcher Tatem Levins, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The two organizations are swapping minor-league catchers in the deal, though Hunt will get a spot on the Mariners' 40-man roster while Levins serves as depth in the lower levels of Tampa Bay's system. Hunt will turn 25 later this month and is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he slashed .256/.331/.484 with 12 home runs over 282 plate appearances between Triple-A Durham and Double-A Montgomery.
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Rays' Blake Hunt: Set to be traded
Rotowire
Hunt is set to be traded from the Padres to the Rays in exchange for left-hander Blake Snell, pending a review of medical records, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
Hunt has yet to play above the Low-A level, but he spent the final month of the 2020 season at the Padres' alternate training site. The catcher has played well in the lower levels of the minors, slashing .255/.331/.381 with five home runs and 39 RBI over 89 games with Low-A Fort Wayne in 2019. He'll now continue his development within the Rays' organization.
