BASEBALL/Taiwanese-American Stuart Fairchild signs with Mariners

Taipei, July 7 (CNA) Taiwanese-American outfielder Stuart Fairchild has signed with the Seattle Mariners and will begin with the club's Triple-A affiliate, ending speculation that he could join Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

Contract terms were not disclosed.

The 30-year-old elected free agency after clearing waivers following his designation for assignment by the Cleveland Guardians. He chose free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A.

Fairchild updated his Instagram profile Monday to identify himself as a Mariners player before his agency announced the deal.

The move marks a return to Seattle, where Fairchild was born and raised and previously played for the Mariners in 2022.

Born to a Taiwanese mother and an American father, he represented Team Taiwan at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March.

Following his release by Cleveland, several CPBL clubs, including the Wei Chuan Dragons and Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions, expressed interest in signing Fairchild before he agreed to return to Seattle.

Fairchild appeared in 14 MLB games with Cleveland this season, batting .158 (3-for-19) with one RBI.

At the WBC, he hit .250 with two home runs, six RBIs and three stolen bases, emerging as one of Team Taiwan's top offensive performers.