To make room for Byrnes on the roster, Seattle designated first baseman Tommy Everidge for assignment, reports Ryan Divish of The Tacoma News Tribune (via Twitter). They had just claimed Everidge off waivers from the Athletics two weeks ago.

Everidge is not a prospect. He's 26. He's AAAA. But last season in Sacramento he was quite good (1.060 OPS). I'd love to see the A's sign him and send him back to Raley Field. He's more than an adequate back-up, should Oakland need another 1B. He's also a local kid who was born and raised in the North Bay and played college ball at Sonoma State. ...

If the A's pass on him, I would add that he's probably at least as good a hitter as Travis Ishikawa, should the Giants need someone in place of Aubrey Huff.

Zduriencik found his bench bat. For under half a million, this is a pretty smart choice.

Everidge is not a prospect.

He is according to the Baseball America writer who inexplicably listed him as the A's 18th best prospect in this year's Prospect Handbook.

And can we link to actual sources instead of MLBTR?

mlbtr is better than twitter accounts.

I always liked Byrnes. I'm glad he's got a shot someplace. And he should be a platoon player.

He should be part of a first half/second half platoon.

He should be part of a first half/second half platoon.

His right-left split is substantially more than his first-second half split. Byrnes is quite a good platoon candidate, if he only hits against LHPs. However, I'm not sure which Mariner matches up with him -- Russ Branyan?

Fangraphs had an article about Byrnes that essentially said no one pops up to the infield as much as Eric Byrnes.

8: That jives with my (highly frustratin) experience of watching him as an A.

OH god! When will the Mariners fire Omar Minaya?!

mlbtr is better than twitter accounts.'

The ZiffBot 4000 is better than everything.

He is according to the Baseball America writer who inexplicably listed him as the A's 18th best prospect in this year's Prospect Handbook.
That was one of the biggest WTFs in there (a lesser Wes Bankston at the same stage). The biggest overrate, offhand, was Silverio for the Dodgers. (Corner outfielder with weak d, a year from minor league free agency, in low-A. Respectable, but unspectacular power. Doesn't control strike zone. Sign me up, please.)
Granted, I say this (on TE) because I don't think his '09 was totally real. If it was ... well, I'm wrong. But track record matters too.

I think this was a good gamble, depending on how he looks in ST. Should only cost them minimum wage and he's got a decent ceiling (though the pop-up thing, ugh).

However, I'm not sure which Mariner matches up with him -- Russ Branyan?

Branyan, unfortunately, seems unlikely to return. Also unfortunately, Byrnes' platoon partner might be Ken Griffey. Hopefully Griffey is just a PH though, rather than a DH.

Should Byrnes bat leadoff, or should Ichiro?

Nobody, not even GM Z, is immune to bad decisions. This is a bad decision. I know it's cheap and not terribly important, but having E. Byrnes within 100 miles of your ball club is a bad idea. Teams should have an Eric Byrnes restraining order.

And yes, I say this is part because now Ms fans (at least the ones in the NW) might be exposed to an "Eric Byrnes Show". But he's also not very good in the MLB sense of hitting baseballs, fielding and stuff. Not to mention the injuries...a platoon with Griffey might set a record for missed games (platoon division).

And what's the problem with Russ Branyan, exactly? I ask that seriously, am I'm not sure I understand why he won't be a Mariner next year.

Branyan has a tricked up back. Probably still hoping for a multi-year deal.

"Branyan has a tricked up back."

MLB.com published this photo of Branyan's x-ray imaging of his spine. I thought it was weak that the MLBPA filed a grievance over it.

New teammate Milton Bradley discussing Eric Byrnes in 2007:

Not everyone appreciates his gusto, though. "He's an example of what I call false hustle," says Padres outfielder Milton Bradley. "He takes a Z route to a ball in the outfield, and when he finally runs it down it looks real good. But if he just takes a straight line, it would be an easy catch."

Byrnes bristles at this. "You think I'm trying to take a Z route?" he says. "Trust me, I'd much prefer to stay on my feet to make a catch." He pauses. "When I play baseball, I put my heart and soul into it. If people want to call it false hustle, I have no problem with that, but they can also go f--- themselves, because I'm not going to change."

Link

"I have no problem with that, but they can also go f--- themselves." Brilliant. No wonder somebody thought he needed his own TV show.

I hope that quote gets brought up during Spring Training.

No doubt Byrnes and the D-backs had to part ways but he has demonstrated real talent in the past and I don't think that goes away because of two years of nagging injuries. Byrnes has a high upside for what I assume is a minimal cost. Should that upside present itself his foibles will be forgotten. I think it was a smart move by Seattle and I am looking forward to watching* them this season.

*BTW Seattle is quickly becoming my favorite away team to watch because in my basement the surround sound makes the train whistles come out behind you. The effect is pretty cool, especially when I have guests who have not yet experienced it. My "Thomas the Train" loving son prefers to watch the Mariners for this reason as well.

OH god! When will the Mariners fire Omar Minaya?!]

Thank you.

I was thinking the platoon would be Byrnes-Langerhans

New teammate Milton Bradley discussing Eric Byrnes in 2007:

When Bradley and Byrnes get in a locker-room altercation, Bradley will probably sever his leg tripping over a towel.