Texas picks up Cruceta off waivers from Seattle

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners made some changes Wednesday when they released pitcher Jesse Foppert, lost righty Francisco Cruceta on waivers to Texas and outrighted right-handers Clint Nageotte and Renee Cortez to Tacoma.

Foppert, a 26-year-old right-hander, was 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA in five games with Triple-A Tacoma last season. He spent a majority of the season on the disabled list with several injuries.

Foppert was obtained from San Francisco in the deal for outfielder Randy Winn on July 31, 2005.

A second-round pick in the First-Year Player Draft by the Giants in 2001, Foppert won eight games for San Francisco in 2003 before undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow later that season.

Cruceta, 25, had a 10.80 ERA in four games with the Mariners last month, including one start. The right-hander was 13-9 with a 4.38 ERA in 28 starts for Tacoma and led the Pacific Coast League with 185 strikeouts.

The Mariners also announced that Nageotte and Cortez have been outrighted to Tacoma.

Nageotte, 25, had a 27.00 ERA in one inning with Seattle this season and was 7-7 with a 5.74 ERA in 19 starts with Tacoma.

Cortez, 23, was 5-3 with a 4.18 ERA in 31 games with Tacoma. Like Nageotte, Cortez also spent time on the disabled list with a right elbow injury.

The moves on Wednesday leave the Mariners with 36 players on their 40-man roster. The Mariners also have five players on the Major League, 60-day disabled list.