The Mariners announced today that they have designated southpaw Marc Rzepczynski for assignment. His MLB roster spot will go to fellow lefty Roenis Elias, who has been recalled from Triple-A.
Rzepczynski, 32, had signed a two-year deal with the Seattle organization before the 2017 season. He’s earning $5.5MM this season under that contract.
Needless to say, the signing has not really turned out as hoped. This year, he has recorded just 7 2/3 innings in his 18 appearances, allowing eight earned runs on 13 hits while carrying a brutal 10:9 K/BB ratio.
Like most of his prior employers, the M’s have tried to limit Rzepczynski to facing left-handed hitters. And he has largely held them in check, as opposing southpaw swingers own a .222/.323/.333 slash against him this year. But Rzepczynski has been completely helpless in 2018 when facing righties, who have gone 7-for-11 with two home runs and five walks.
That sort of output represents a problem even for a LOOGY, as it’s hard to avoid righties altogether. Rzepczynski has been tagged for a .280/.386/.438 cumulative lifetime slash by hitters that carry the platoon advantage, which has been at least palatable enough given the sub-.600 OPS he has allowed over his career to lefties.
crazy4cleveland
I wanted to call this a surprising move, but then I checked his stats for the season.
MHanny17
Finally
terry g
About time.
Stevil
This was a move I have been anticipating. I thought Miranda was more likely than Elias, but he hit the DL this week.
Good move, as Rzep cost the team dearly and Elias can offer innings, which will be needed to supplement Felix’s starts.
zoinksscoob91 2
He was a waste of consonants…
layventsky
Using Rzepczynski in a game of Scrabble results in an automatic win.
muskie73
The Scrabble game has only one “z” so lacks the letters to spell Rzepczynski (unless the blank tile, which carries no points, is used).
Double A
Play a lot of scrabble huh
layventsky
Hence it’s an automatic win.
jorge78
LOL…..
skrockij89
About time! He was awful as a LOOGY and cost the M’s a few games.
nste23
What does LOOGY stand for?
layventsky
Lefty One Out GuY
YankeesBillsNets305
One of the best nicknames in baseball..Scrabble
tjpraw
Lol. In NY wfan radio host Steve Somers used to call him Rumplestilskin
stubby66
I get what people are saying but in the end he always seems to be one of those guys that helps in the playoffs like a Dave Henderson with the A’s and Boston
seth3120
I thought he was done four or five years ago. Must have been decent long enough to get this kind of deal
Solaris601
Even though CLE has a definite bullpen emergency, I don’t think Repcz would do anything to improve that situation, so on behalf of the Tribe, we’ll take a pass.
layventsky
Can’t be much worse than Beliveau. With Miller out again, they need all the lefty help they can get.
Ashotswell
Whenever Marc came into games whether lead small or large, always seemed to worry if we will still be leading after his appearance
ayrbhoy
When Skip makes a signal to the pen you could say he was the only reliever to come out of our current bullpen that would make you say “oh no! Not him”
Ashotswell
All seriousness though it will be the Mariners luck he goes elsewhere and does well and beats us.. that will be our luck.. and pay him to do it to
jd396
And the guy that puts the letters on jerseys breathes a sigh of relief
ayrbhoy
Rzep was trash this season, an absolute dumpster fire!! I feel for him as a person ($11m goes a long way) but I’ve been checking mlbtr over the last 2 days hoping to read this. He was the biggest reason we split the series w Texas
Polish Hammer
Cleveland will give Perez one outing, he’ll get shelled, they’ll DFA him, sign Rzep…..and the revolving door to their ‘pen continues…