The Mariners announced four roster moves Monday, reinstating righty Ken Giles from the 60-day injured list and recalling infielder Kevin Padlo from Triple-A Tacoma. In order to create roster space, right-hander Sergio Romo and lefty Roenis Elias were designated for assignment.
Romo, signed to a one-year, $2MM deal late in the offseason after it was learned that Casey Sadler required season-ending shoulder surgery, was sharp through his first month as a Mariner but has seen the wheels come off in dramatic fashion. The 39-year-old sidearmer yielded just one run through his first eight innings before the Orioles tattooed him for five runs in two-third of an inning back on June 1.
That marked the beginning of a monumental meltdown that has seen the three-time World Series champion and former All-Star serve up a dozen runs in his past 6 1/3 frames. Romo has allowed runs in five of his past nine appearances, giving up multiple runs in an outing four times during that calamitous stretch.
Given the extent of those struggles and the fact that he’s on a guaranteed salary (albeit a fairly modest one), Romo is quite likely to go unclaimed on waivers and become a free agent. Any team that wants to speculate on helping him right the ship would only owe him the prorated league minimum for any time spent in the Majors at that point. Romo hasn’t experienced a velocity drop — he’s still sitting at 85.6 mph with his sinker and in the 77-78 range with his signature slider — and is still inducing chases off the plate at a huge 37.8% clip. Given that context and his broader track record, he ought to have another opportunity out there — particularly if he’s willing to take a minor league deal somewhere.
As for the 33-year-old Elias, he’s pitched far better with the Mariners in 2022, albeit in a smaller sample of 7 2/3 innings. During that time, the veteran lefty has fanned six of 33 opponents (18.2%) while walking three (9.1%) and inducing grounders at a robust 50% clip. That marks Elias’ first big league action since the 2019 season, as he was sidelined for much of the 2020-21 seasons due to arm injuries — culminating in Tommy John surgery last March.
Elias has been similarly solid in Triple-A this year, notching a 3.63 ERA with a 17.6% strikeout rate against a sharp 6.8% walk rate and a 44.6% grounder rate in 17 1/3 innings. It’s possible he’ll hold some appeal to bullpen-hungry clubs, particularly those in need of a lefty. In 395 2/3 innings at the MLB level, Elias has a 3.96 ERA — although that mark is at 3.30 dating back to a 2017 move to the bullpen.
Giles, 31, will be activated for his team debut. Signed to a two-year, $7MM contract knowing he’d miss the first year of the deal recovering from 2020 Tommy John surgery, Giles brings a a triple-digit heater and 115 career saves to the Seattle bullpen. His minor league rehab assignment, however, was grisly. The former Phillies, Astros and Blue Jays closer logged 7 1/3 innings between High-A and Triple-A but was shellacked for 16 runs (11 earned) on 15 hits and eight walks in that time. Giles also served up four long balls in that stretch.
Some rust after a long layoff is to be expected, but those minor league struggles are nevertheless eye-opening. However, it’s worth noting that in addition to that 2020 Tommy John procedure, Giles suffered a strained tendon in his pitching hand back in Spring Training, which sent him back to the IL for the first two-plus months of the season.
At his best, Giles has shown the ability to be one of the game’s very best relievers. He tallied 53 innings of 1.87 ERA ball as recently as 2019 with Toronto, striking out 40% of his opponents along the way. And in 351 career innings, Giles boasts a 2.74 ERA with a huge 33.3% strikeout rate against a better-than-average 7.7% walk rate. Time will tell which version of the righty the Mariners are getting, but if he’s back to form, Giles could either be a key bullpen piece down the stretch or, if the Mariners continue to struggle, an appealing trade chip in six weeks’ time.
Next Jerry and Scott? Please?
I agree this is finally needed. Nothing indicates this ownership group will do anything with either though. While Dipoto has rebuilt the farm, it is abundantly clear he did not add enough this off season, they have a ridiculous amount to payroll space and really all they did was add Ray, Frazier, Winker, and Suarez. Ray has been disappointing, Winker a hole in the lineup(besides being able to walk), Suarez has been more than adequate at 3b though, but Frazier is looking below replacement level..
Trying to depend on a full year from Haniger, Kelenic sticking, and Lewis off the IR was a huge mistake. Raleigh has shown a lot of improvement lately but there is zero depth at C. My main issue right now is why Toro and Torrens are still on the 40 man? Neither provide any value in the lineup or on the field.
blue96, I don’t see Ray as being a disappointment.
He started out that way, yes, but he has begun to click.
As for offense, it’s like the panhandlers’ pasteboard signs read, “Anything helps, God Bless.”
You’re right about Frazier, Winker, Toro, and Torrens.
We need a Bat Inspector. We probably got a shipment this spring with no hits in them.
Ray for the most part has been decent, but outside of his last outing he seems to have one inning where he gets torched. That is what has been most disappointing to me. He looks like an ace and then once he gets into trouble 2/3 runs score.
I’ll definitely second that comment about Toro. I get the impression he’s there simply because they don’t have any better options. I’d like to think Winker will start to click at some point, but Frazier and Torrens’ trade value is practically zero at this point. Too many question marks and no real answers.
Absolutely not! That would be the terrible knee-jerk reaction of the decade for Seattle, in classic Mariners style.
They have had 8 and 6 years respectively. They were on the cusp of the playoffs until the last game of 2021 and are now 10 games under .500, 13 games back of Houston, and 3 games back of the Rangers(?)! How is that a knee jerk reaction? They have had their chance at the rebuild and Dipoto has done a fantastic job with the farm but hasn’t proved he can build a ML roster to not only make the post season but to do damage when they get there.
Had their chance at the rebuild? This young rebuilt team hasn’t even played a full 3 seasons worth of games together. You don’t give up on a rebuild after 2 1/2 yrs nor do you give up on young talented top prospect players early into their careers. You can’t panic if they struggle at first.
Besides, should we just ignore the fact that Dipoto and his FO has brought us at least 3 All-Star/ MVP type generational talents in Julio Rodriguez, Ty France and Logan Gilbert? The latter is a bonafide Ace who is in the Top 10 of Pitching multiple categories in his Sophomore season. The former is on pace to be ALROY, he even has an outside shot at this years All-Star team- look at this mornings voting. There are more success stories on this rebuilt team than the couple of young players who are struggling. Should that be ignored because 2 of your run producers have fluke injuries?
The M’s lineup would be completely different if Mitch Haniger and Kyle Lewis were in it- they would be above .500. The Mariners lead the League in stranded runners- they are getting on base. That’s not the problem. They just need Haniger and Lewis.
You don’t go buy 2 middle of the order bats in the offseason because you think one of your run producers will suffer a concussion from a ball glancing off his shoulder sneaking under the ear flap of his batting helmet, or the other will get his spikes stuck in the batters box. That would be mad.
Seattle just has to wait for those two run producing middle of the order bats. Lewis should be back within a week to 10 days. Haniger has been taking batting practice for a week and is first eligible to return on 6/29.
Sorry but depending on two players who have never proved they can be healthy for a full season is pure folly. Haniger is a FA after the year, Lewis hasn’t played much in nearly 3 years now(108 games total). He may never play the OF due to his degenerative knee. Frazier is also a FA at the end of the year. Seattle went cheap when comprising the roster.
I agree they need Haniger and Lewis, unfortunately you cannot depend on either and every fan knew this.
Again, I stated the minor league system has been stocked and is in phenomenal shape. But because you can build the farm does not mean you know how to adequately build a MLB roster.
You mention that Haniger and Lewis have not shown us they can be healthy for a whole yr but Hanny played 157 g last yr and in 2018. This yr again he was dreadfully unlucky with his IL stints. His situation is totally different from Lewis.
You’re absolutely spot on re: this past offseason’s cheap FA/trade approach tho. If you polled Ms fans at the start of ST I believe the majority of us felt like- ok good start, we like Robbie Ray, Winker and Frazier but that’s it? You’re not buying another SP? You’re relying on Matt Brash as SP5? You’re gambling on Eugenio Suarez as your 3B? No lockdown RPer to replace Sadler? You buy Romo? Really? Why are there no depth pieces? There were warning signs.
Here’s the thing though- we don’t know how much money and autonomy Dipoto was given. He may have been told he needed to make more trades than spend FA dollars. He may have been given a list of players that were off limits. Frankly that scenario would not surprise me.
Too many Seattle fans ignored the warning signs from 2021- the record in 1 Run games. A winning record despite a negative Run Diff. This team is still rebuilding and these things take time. The FO has shown us they are light yrs ahead of many of our past FO’s.
How are you feeling now? =)
It would not be a knee jerk reaction. Jerry bet the house that all the guys he picked up would do well. They haven’t. He could have signed some guys, in free agency, who could hit. Good grief….a journeyman player hitting .250 would be better than half the Mariners lineup!
Mmmmmhmmmm. Looks like it would have been a bad knee jerk reaction =)
Better now that Toro and Torrens have been sent down/released. Still think they should of added a bat at the trading deadline. I can’t see Lewis being called up again this year, Trammel deserves another shot though.
Giles can help big time if healthy , Romo ( great character guy over the years , very funny ) horrible now .
Hang ‘em up Sergi. Nomo Romo
Romo is an awesome dude. Bummer it didn’t work out for him in Seattle. Great clubhouse guy!
Giles is a head case, hope the Mariners have fun watching his melt downs as he punches himself in the face on the way back to the dugout.
That happened once. So he’s intense, so what? Ask Blue Jays fans if they’d like Giles back, in fact, ask any GM of a contender if they’d add a former All-Star closer on a cheap contract.
I hope Romo will go back to the As love him in the bay
Unless Sandoval is in the majors somewhere Romo and Bum are the last players in the league that played on all three Giants WS teams and that seems crazy to me
Sandoval was playing in Mexico last I looked.
Subtract two pitchers add one. Overall across baseball, today is not a good day to be a fringe-level pitcher as teams have to reduce to 13 pitchers.
Oh no! Only an 8 man bullpen? How will they ever manage?!! They might have to let a starting pitcher go at least 5 innings. The Horror!!
Seattle has the 6th highest IP/G for starting pitchers and still can’t get their bullpen right, so it’s clearly not an over usage issue for them
baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2022-starter…
If 90 wins marks the level necessary for being a playoff-caliber team, the M’s now have to go 61-33 the rest of the way (they have to play .649 ball). Designating Romo and Elias is probably a good start to fixing the bullpen a bit, but the bullpen isn’t the biggest problem… that problem is the hitting (at least lately). In the four losses to the Angels, the M’s scored three runs on 19 hits. As a Mariners fan, I’m done with Winker and Frazier; two trades that looked great on paper have been big duds so far (aside from Suarez, surprisingly). I want to see Dipoto working to fix the lineup so it is functional, and I hope it’s done by acquiring some people who can hit (rather than bringing on the usual parade of rejects, retreads and kids who aren’t ready). Let’s see them acting like a contender at the trade deadline, whether they’re in the race or not.
Get some good players who can help stabilize the lineup for the rest of this year while setting things up for success next year… Seattle fans deserve better than what we are seeing now. This is a team that could have been doing much better this season. I am no GM, but couldn’t the team have done more during the off-season?
For Dipoto to acquire legit guys, he’ll have to give up legit guys. I don’t think this season will see this organization break their curse. SO… instead of tossing aside your strong farm system for some quick fix, stand pat at the trade deadline and go into the off season and TRULY go after free agents. Don’t trade your youth away for guys who might not want to be here. Go out and overpay to get the guys you want. Then you’ve got the guys you want and the farm you want. You sacrifice money if it goes bad, that’s all. If this ownership doesn’t want to do that then sell the freaking team to someone invested in winning. Because I’m NOT seeing it in this ownership! And the whole “players don’t want to come here” argument is BS. Money can change their mind. Cheapskates won’t!
Shiatsu4U, rght on, mostly frustration talking on my part. They probably DON’T want to give up prospects or weaken the farm… at least not yet. Agreed 100% about showing FAs the money. If you pay them, they will come.
You are wrong on the owners. They gave Dipoto some flexibility I don’t think he used it. He hung his cleats on the wrong guys. We will see what the trade deadline looks like. Don’t give away young players to maybe improve a little. I want to win as bad as anyone but I want it to be long term. If things aren’t going well at deadline stand pat unless you can get a great long term talent.
DiPoto made his share of moves last winter, they just haven’t bore any fruit. Who would have thought Winker AND Frazier would be this bad? A year ago Winker was setting the world on fire. There are too many holes in the roster right now.
Begs the questions: does playing in Cincinnati and their super small field and for a team without pressure to win effect the outcome? Does playing for the Pirates, a horrible team without pressure at all play a role? Frazier had troubles when he was traded to San Diego where they expected to win and make the playoffs.
People forget, these guys aren’t robots. Players can both find greater success and greater failure at new locations.
Look at the lineup the Reds had, 3,4, 5 were Castellanos, Votto, and Suarez, those guys put up 101 home runs. Winker got to bat 2nd with India putting up a 376 OBP leading off in front of him and those guys hitting behind him. If Haniger and Kelenic had produced as expected, then the M’s 2, 3, 4, 5 could have been Winker, Kelenic, Haniger and Suarez. Frazier as the M’s India and …..well, maybe that was what Jerry was thinking.
You’re forgetting that there’s a 3rd WC this year. The team won’t even need 90 Wins. It’s an outside chance but the team who is in the 3rd WC spot (BOS) is just 6g above .500 right now. They play in an extremely tough division – with NYY TOR and TBR. Haniger and Lewis will replace two struggling bats (Toro and Trammell?) and transform the lineup.
Ayrbhoy, I think you are correct that it may not take 90 wins to reach that third wild card spot. It seems like it might take at least 85, right? If one believes the M’s can get in with 80-85 wins, I do admire the optimism. To get to even 85-77 the Mariners would still have to go 56-38 in their remaining games. I don’t see the current configuration playing near-.600 ball the rest of the way, nor do I view Haniger and Lewis as transformative players for the lineup; when they are available, they can be very helpful, but counting on players who are injured so often is proving to be folly. It seems like it did when the M’s counted on SPs like Erik Bedard and James Paxton to make even 80% of their starts… the engine can’t be counted on to perform well when important parts spend so much time in the shop. Of course injuries are unpredictable, but when injuries cause players to be unavailable so often, maybe it’s better to view them as “it’s great if we have them available” rather than as reliable pieces for now, next season and beyond. Maybe the M’s need to acquire a few more people who can hit, in case they don’t get Haniger and/or Lewis back. I like both players, and here’s hoping they can be healthy and productive… although given their track records, I’m not counting on it.
Not only will the M’s need to play about .600 ball but they will need the AL East teams to spread out their losses when they play each other the rest of the way. It’s a long shot for sure but it’s not impossible. I agree you can’t count on them making it- but you can count on the M’s being a far better team with Haniger and Lewis in that lineup. Imagine BOS playing w/o JD Martinez. That’s the type of production Haniger will bring if he gets lucky enough to play the rest of the way. He played an entire season in 2021. It’s not like it can’t be done.
How dare you remind a Mariners fan of the Eric Bedard disaster! Haha our current FO is light years ahead of that crew.
I’ll say this about Bedard and the Big Maple- both of them had muscular/mechanical type injuries. Mitch Haniger has had THE most unlucky injury record EVER! Can you imagine a FO executive building OF depth in case his clean up hitter gets hit in the face by a Jacob DeGrom FB, or has one of his nuts ripped off, or comes off the IL from Covid only to trip up in the batters box his first day back!!? He’d sound like a paranoid mad man. It’s easy in hindsight to say we need to have another cleanup hitter other than Haniger but you can’t plan for these types of accidents.
I’ll ask you this- Do the Chicago White Sox give up on Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert because of their injury record? As frustrating as this season has been the Mariners, like the CWS have a number of really good young players they can build around. Too early to pull the plug.
Thanks Ayrbhoy, I admire your optimism and wish I could feel more that way. In no way was I suggesting the Mariners “pull the plug”, I was suggesting they should augment what they have… and if the idea is to contend, I am not feeling a sense of urgency from the front office to find some more useful players to help out. No, you don’t give up on the players… but if you know you can’t count on them to stay healthy and contribute, isn’t it wise to add the kind of depth necessary to make up for their frequent absences? Going into the season I thought the lineup looked fine, at least on paper. Now it is painfully obvious the roster has very little depth. If it turns out Haniger and Lewis can come back healthy and be productive, I will be a very happy fan! In the event they don’t, and if the goal for this season is still the playoffs, shouldn’t the Mariners be relying on replacement players of at least slightly higher caliber than Dylan Moore, Sam Haggerty, Taylor Trammell and Justin Upton? Also, while I think it’s way too early to give up on Winker and Frazier, both have been borderline awful at the plate. Wait on them to produce, wait for some important players to get healthy, wait for Kelenic, but try not to get so far down in the standings that 2022 becomes more of the usual “wait until next year”. Be patient… to a point.
You bring up some really good points- for ex: depth. Can you imagine how this lineup would look if Julio and/or Ty France are out for a month? God forbid even longer? The M’s and A’s would be in a fight for the AL West cellar!
I do wonder how much money and autonomy Jerry Dipoto is given each offseason. I also wonder if any FA impact hitters chose not to come to a rebuilding team. Not a single MLB media outlet predicted the Ms to repeat a 90 Win season this year, maybe these hitters chose other teams because they knew that this young rebuilt team has played less than 3 full seasons of games (2 years and 129 games.)
Winker and Frazier have probably been the biggest disappointment of this whole season- I wouldn’t say we are stranding RISP because of them but they are certainly contributing to that problem. I have thought this about them though: not only is it tough coming over to a new team it cant be easy for NL hitters coming over to face a AL pitching. I have also thought Winker was bound for some regression coming over from a HR hitters park to a Pitchers park. Still – up to this point in the season they have both been big disappointments.
Maybe Winker kicks on from here after last nights 110mph+ HR? It does happen in MLB, good hitters slump then go on a tear. Maybe I’m being too optimistic!? Naïve? Please get back soon Hanny…….
I always liked Romo, but not sure I agree with the “great clubhouse guy” comments above. In his last season in SF Bochy came out to take him out of a game. Romo gave this shocked look and started laughing, like him being removed was so incredulous that it was laughable.
It was an obvious showing up of Bochy, and the broadcasters commented on it. Fans were all over Bochy because a right-hander was coming up to bat, and many thought it was a mistake. The thing was though that guy coming up to bat was Yadi Molina, who was something like 5 for 8 against Romo, with several XBH’s.
This was in the playoffs, and that display may have played a part in the Giants deciding not to re-sign the guy. That changed my opinion about him. Not sure anyone can be a great clubhouse guy and not be accepting what’s best for the team.
tbh that was not bochy’s best work.. the fact of the matter is that for as good as he is at managing bullpens 2016 he made so many terrible decisions from his overreliance and failure to demote casilla to using will smith as a lefty specialist – the showing up happened because of this.
I am always skeptical of fans saying a manager made lots of mistakes. Managers have a ton more info than fans. Plenty of fans thought taking Romo out in that Cards game was a mistake when it was not. But those fans didn’t know, like Bochy did, that Yadi rakes against Romo.
But, whether Bochy made mistakes or not is moot. If you’re a player, and you disagree with the manager, you keep it in house. You don’t show up your manager on the mound in front of TV cameras.
Completely agree with your 1st and 2nd sentences but the Romo that SF Giants fans knew was light years ahead of the version of Romo that was let go in Seattle. He was nothing else but a clubhouse cheerleader in Seattle.
Mets could use Romo
Room is washed up. The Mets don’t need him.
Cubs should claim Elias, and DFA Norris
Mariners are stupid for letting Elias go. He’s better than several pitchers on their staff
If they keep Elias they would have to get rid of a RPer who is better than him. Think about it- the ‘worst’ RPer currently in the pen is Ryan Borucki- but he is the LHRP. Tommy Milone is the swing man who can give you 3-5 innings or a spot start- Roenas cant do that. Then you have Muñoz, Sewald, Swanny, Murfee, Castillo and Giles. That’s it. Roenas Elias isn’t better than those last 6 RPers. He had to go. Don’t worry though he prob won’t get picked up- then he’ll be a depth piece stashed in Tacoma. You might see him again.
Truly a FOREVER GIANT!
He had one horrible meltdown and a few bad outings this year. That’s not good but he can still get hitters out.
Wishing him nothing but the best.