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Haniger returns to Mariners with DeSclafani in deal for LHP Ray

SAN FRANCISCO – Outfielder Mitch Haniger returned to the Seattle Mariners when he was acquired from the San Francisco Giants on Friday with righthander Anthony DeSclafani and $6 million for left-hander Robbie Ray in a trade of underperforming players coming off injuries.

Haniger was with the Mariners from 2017-22, then left to sign a $43.5 million, three-year contract with the Giants.

He hit a career-low .209 with six homers and 28 RBIs last year, a season interrupted when he broke his right forearm when hit by a pitch from the St. Louis Cardinals’ Jack Flaherty on June 13. Haniger returned Aug. 31 and hit .159 with

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six RBIs over his final 21 games.

He was an All-Star in 2018 and hit .253 in 2021, when he set career highs with 39 homers and 100 RBIs. Haniger has a .256 career average with 118 homers and 351 RBIs in seven seasons.

DeSclafani, 33, was 4-8 with a 4.88 ERA in 18 starts and one relief appearance last year, striking out 79 and walking 20 in 99 2/3 innings. He was on the injured list from July 3-17 because of right shoulder fatigue and didn’t pitch after July 23 because of a right elbow flexor strain.

DeSclafani has a 54-56 record and 4.20 ERA in 169 starts and 11 relief appearances.

Ray, 32, pitched 3 1/3 innings against Cleveland last March 31 in the Mariners’ second game, then went on the injured list the next day and had season-ending Tommy John surgery and a flexor tendon repair on May 3 with Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister.

Ray was an All-Star in 2017 with Arizona and has a 74-71 record with a 3.96 ERA in 222 starts and four relief appearances over 10 seasons.

Olympic sprinter Pistorius freed after nearly 9 years in prison

PRETORIA, South Africa – Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee who became a global star competing at his sport’s highest level while running on carbon-fiber blades, was released from prison on Friday after serving nearly nine years behind bars for killing his girlfriend, the model Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, 37, was released early Friday from the Atteridgeville Correctional Center in Pretoria and processed at a parole office before being released to his family,

Department of Corrections spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo told The Associated Press. Nxumalo, who referred to Pistorius’ release as an “operation” designed to avoid a media scramble, declined to give further details.

“I can only tell you he was released this morning,” Nxumalo said.

Pistorius served nearly nine years of his murder sentence of 13 years and five months for the fatal shooting of Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. He became eligible for early release having served at least half his sentence, and then was approved for parole in November.

Pistorius was expected to initially live at his uncle’s home in the upscale Pretoria suburb of Waterkloof after his release. He lived there during his seven-month trial in 2014.

— Wire reports