OF Justin Ruggiano refused an outright assignment to the minors and elected to become a free agent on Nov. 6. Ruggiano, 33, hit a combined .248/.333/.472 with six homers and 15 RBIs in 57 games for the Mariners and the Dodgers this year. He would have been eligible for arbitration this winter he remained on the major league roster.

OF Justin Ruggiano was outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Nov. 5 as the Dodgers took him off their 40-man roster. Ruggiano, 33, hit a combined .248/.333/.472 with six homers and 15 RBIs in 57 games for the Mariners and the Dodgers this year. He would have been eligible for arbitration this winter he remained on the major league roster.

Ruggiano went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a steal and a run scored in a 6-2 win over Pittsburgh on Friday.

Ruggiano has been ridiculous since being acquired from the Mariners, as he is hitting .333 with three homers, four doubles, 10 RBI and seven runs scored in seven starts and 11 total appearances. He is also suddenly fantasy relevant, as he bats atop one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball against southpaws.

Ruggiano went 1-for-4 with a triple in a 2-0 win over the Rockies on Wednesday.

Ruggiano is just 2 for his last 11, but he's been ridiculous in a Dodger uniform aside from that. After an 0-for-3 debut, Ruggiano went 8-for-16 over his next seven games with three homers, three doubles, 10 RBI and six runs scored. After not finding a role with the Mariners, Ruggiano will be in the lineup every day against lefties for a much better team.

Ruggiano went 1-for-4 with a grand slam and a walk in a 12-4 loss to Arizona on Friday.

Ruggiano was fortunate to get his slam as it came in the ninth inning of a 12-0 game. In any case, he has secured a role as the leadoff hitter against left-handers and that should make him valuable in NL-only formats. In six games since being acquired, Ruggiano has three homers, 10 RBI, and five runs scored in just 15 at-bats with the Dodgers.

Ruggiano will start in left field and bat leadoff Tuesday against the Angels.

With Andre Ethier is sitting against a lefty (Andrew Heaney) and Jimmy Rollins nursing a finger injury, Ruggiano will be afforded his first opportunity to bat atop the order for Los Angeles. Ruggiano has gone 3-for-6 with a double and a homer since joining the Dodgers, and has hit .295/.367/.568 against left-handed pitching this season.

Ruggiano is expected to join the Dodgers' active roster in advance of Tuesday's game, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports.

Acquired from Seattle on Monday, Ruggiano was a candidate to remain at the Triple-A level, but it appears as though the Dodgers will bring him up to further expand their outfield depth. Ruggiano hit surprisingly well at Triple-A this season, slashing. 296/.385/.514 with 29 RBI and 10 homers in just 49 games.

Ruggiano was traded to the Dodgers for cash considerations Monday, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

It's currently unclear whether Ruggiano will remain in Triple-A -- where he's been in the Mariners' organization -- or be called up Tuesday when rosters expand, though the Dodgers would have to find room on the 40-man roster for him.

Ruggiano cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish reports.

Ruggiano's specialty is supposed to be hitting lefties, but he was hitting just .214 before getting designated for assignment. He could be back up later this season if the Mariners have need of an outfielder, but his fantasy value is at an all-time low.

Ruggiano was designated for assignment Thursday, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

With Mark Trumbo acquired in a trade that sent Welington Castillo to Arizona on Wednesday, the Mariners needed to replace Ruggiano with a backup catcher, Jesus Sucre. Ruggiano hasn't provided much at the plate this season, owning a .214/.321/.357 slash line through 70 at-bats. He does have a strong record against southpaws, and could thus draw some interest on waivers.

Ruggiano could be released when the Mariners need to add an extra reliever to their six-man bullpen, possibly as soon as this weekend.

The Mariners, who sometimes used an eight-man bullpen last season, likely will need another relief arm soon. Ruggiano and Rickie Weeks, neither of whom is hitting higher than .200, are redundant as right-handed backup outfielders. Dustin Ackley is also terrible at the plate, but his status as the 2009 second overall pick likely gives him a pass. The M's could also demote Chris Taylor and move Brad Miller back to shortstop.

Ruggiano is in the lineup Monday against Tampa Bay, Shannon Drayer of ESPN reports.

Ruggiano, who logged only a pinch-hit at-bat Sunday, will take over in center field for Dustin Ackley. In 33 at-bats this month, Ruggiano is hitting just .182 with 14 strikeouts, three RBI and two home runs.

Ruggiano went 2-for-4 with a double, his second homer, two RBI and two runs in Wednesday's win over Baltimore.

After doing nothing all year long, Ruggiano has suddenly rapped out four hits -- three for extra bases -- over the last two games. He's proved himself fantasy-relevant before, but it wouldn't be wise to count on Ruggiano reliving the glory days in a part-time role with the Mariners.

Ruggiano is out of the lineup Saturday, the Tacoma News Tribune's Bob Dutton reports.

The Mariners said Ruggiano would see most of the playing time in center field while Austin Jackson was out, but this is the second straight day he has been out of the lineup. Given his right-handedness, the Mariners appear to be instead opting to play Dustin Ackley in center field when a righty is on the mound with Nelson Cruz playing the outfield and Brad Miller playing DH. Ruggiano should still be in the lineup most nights when a lefty is on the mound for the opposing team.

Ruggiano will absorb most of the playing time in center field with Austin Jackson (ankle) on the 15-day disabled list, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

Ruggiano is batting .222 with eight strikeouts in 27 at-bats this season. Manager Lloyd McClendon told reporters that Ruggiano would get the majority of the playing time in center in Austin Jackson's absence. It's unclear how long Jackson will be out with the ankle injury, but Ruggiano should see an uptick in production in his stead.

Ruggiano is not in the lineup Thursday against Houston.

After starting the last three games, Ruggiano will move to the bench as Seth Smith enters the lineup in right field. Ruggiano went 1-for-5 with a double and a run in Wednesday's win over the Rangers.

Ruggiano, batting leadoff for the first time this season, walked twice, stole a base and scored two runs in a win at Texas on Monday.

Ruggiano has had limited playing time as the right-handed platoon with Seth Smith in left field. The Mariners' leadoff possibilities are slim, so maybe he could stick atop the order.

Ruggiano will get the start in left field Tuesday.

This is expected to be a regular occurrence when a lefty is on the mound and Tuesday it happens to be a mediocre lefty in C.J. Wilson, making Ruggiano an interesting play in daily leagues.

Ruggiano is slated to platoon with left-handed Seth Smith in right field, but he could pick up at-bats against right-handers in left field and center field, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

The Mariners trust Ruggiano to play all three outfield spots and likely will be used to give Dustin Ackley, in right, and Austin Jackson, in center, time off. Ruggiano is better against lefties (.846 OPS last season), but he holds his own against right-handed pitchers (.786).

Ruggiano and platoon mate Seth Smith are tentatively penciled in as the Mariners' No. 2 hitters this season, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

If the career norms hold up, the Mariners should get steady production from their duo in right field. Last season, Ruggiano had a .337 OBP over 81 games for the Cubs, which should enable him to rack up a decent number of runs scored for a player on the small side of a split with the likes of Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, and Kyle Seager behind him in the order if McClendon's current plans hold up.