Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto spoke with the media this week, including Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN, in advance of the start of Spring Training. During those talks, Dipoto provided an update on reliever Andrés Muñoz.
Muñoz, 24, had a tremendous breakout last year, posting a 2.49 earned run average over 64 appearances. That ERA probably shortchanges Munoz a bit, who struck out 38.7% of batters faced while walking just 6% of them and got ground balls at a 52.6% clip. ERA estimators all thought he actually deserved better, including a 2.04 FIP, 1.84 xERA and 1.74 SIERA. After the club was eliminated from the postseason in October, he underwent foot surgery, but he’s already out of a walking boot and began a throwing program two weeks ago.
The fireballer has emerged as a key piece of the club’s bullpen, something they seemingly anticipated when they extended him after the 2021 season. The righty had just returned from Tommy John surgery and made a single appearance that year, but the M’s had enough faith to sign him to a four-year, $7.5MM extension with three club options. That could keep him as a fixture of the club’s relief corps through the 2028 season, and his current health is surely a good sign for the club going into 2023.
Other notes from around the league…
- Dipoto also provided an update on another reliever in 32-year-old Casey Sadler, who is coming off a season lost to shoulder surgery but is going to be ready to go for Spring Training this year. In 2021, Sadler made 42 appearances for the M’s with a ridiculous 0.67 ERA. That level of run prevention was in no way sustainable, with Sadler benefitting from a .188 batting average on balls in play and 90.9% strand rate. But his 25.5% strikeout rate, 6.9% walk rate and 62.9% ground ball rate all point to an excellent campaign nonetheless, with Sadler pegged for a 2.48 FIP, 2.41 xERA and 3.06 SIERA. Unfortunately, he required the surgery on his shoulder in March of 2022, which kept him out for all of that year. The Mariners outrighted him off the roster in November but re-signed him to a minor league deal. “If we get that ’21 version of Casey Sadler with the bullpen group we currently have, that just takes us to a different level,” Dipoto said. Despite trading Erik Swanson to the Blue Jays in the Teoscar Hernández deal, the M’s bullpen is still pretty packed. Munoz should be joined by Paul Sewald, Diego Castillo, Matt Brash, Penn Murfee, Matt Festa and Trevor Gott, as well as Rule 5 draftee Chris Clarke. If the rotation is fully healthy, Chris Flexen should be in the bullpen as well as a long reliever. Sadler was so good in 2021 that he could force his way into the picture if he looks like he’s back on track. Despite the crowding, pitcher injuries are fairly inevitable and this pile of depth should serve Seattle well as the season progress.
- Orioles utility player Terrin Vavra, 26 in May, cracked the majors last year and managed fairly well by hitting .258/.340/.337 in his first 103 plate appearances. That production was just barely below league average, with his wRC+ coming in at 97, though he hit a much sturdier .324/.435/.451 in Triple-A. Between the two levels, he played second base, third base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions, making him a usefully versatile piece of the club’s roster. It seems he’s not satisfied with that level of versatility and has been working to add first base to his repertoire this offseason. “I don’t think until I really play a game over there, I’ll truly feel the most comfortable, but that’s what spring training’s for,” Vavra tells Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun. “I think I’ll get some opportunities to showcase that and showcase other talents and try and make my case. I want to be able to show that I can do that, and I want the coaching staff to be confident if they had to send me out there, Day 1 of spring training even.” The O’s have been looking to find left-handed bats to complement right-hander Ryan Mountcastle in the first base mix, acquiring Lewin Díaz and Ryan O’Hearn this offseason, as well as signing Franchy Cordero, Josh Lester and Nomar Mazara to minor league deals. But Vavra, who also hits left-handed, could have a leg up on that group since none of them are on the 40-man but Vavra is. On the other hand, Vavra has option years remaining and could be ticketed for some more time in the minors if he gets squeezed off the active roster.
Munoz is gonna be a star closer for Seattle.
Agree
Unless Paul Sewald blows a lig, he is gonna have to settle for star setup man
I see it that way, too, Superstar.
And setup man is an important role, by the way.
Lots of pressure. You don’t want to blow it because that changes the whole game if you do.
Both statements can be true. Sewald should be the closer entering the 2023 season, but Munoz will likely take over in the next season or two.
Sewald is 33 and entering his sixth or seventh season and will be a free agent after next year. He doesn’t need to break anything to lose the closer’s role. Just lose some effectiveness. Teams frequently rotate the closer’s role now. We’ve certainly seen that in Seattle.
Seattle doesn’t have a set closer. They go with matchups. It’s usually Sewald, but Muñoz & Castillo will get the call as well.
Yes he has become the closer but not a traditional ‘Eddie Diaz type closer role’ where he is defined as “the 9th inn guy.” Sewald will still come into to get his 10-15 Saves. Frustrating Fantasy Mngrs everywhere!! Haha. Munoz knows he could be tasked with getting 4 outs in the 7th inn or come in the game at any spot in the 8th or 9th inn depending on the batter.
I heard an interesting stat about Muñoz from a recent interview with his Pitching Coach Pete Woodworth. In 2022 Andres Muñoz “won” more 0-1, 0-2 and 1-2 pitch counts than any Pitcher across MLB last year. He obviously has amazing stuff but his ability to land his pitches for strikes (called or swinging) to win those counts is the single reason behind his success in 2022. That A Nola- Ty France/Andres Muñoz trade with SD looks better and better by the day!
I am drafting Munoz as the closer.
Then you’ll have less Saves than me in H2H Fantasy haha! Muñoz will not be my 1st RP drafted in my League! The rule in Fantasy is – pick a “traditional closer” first like Edwin Diaz, Strider, or Emmanuel Clase BEFORE you choose any Seattle or Tampa RPer!!
Moony has elite stuff but that doesn’t mean he’s going to rack up 57 saves like Diaz did in 2018 – Servais doesn’t use that system any more. In fact if you look at the two main Projection systems (Steamer and Zips) for 2023 it’s no surprise that you’ll see Muñoz projected for just 10 Saves. While Sewald is projected for 20 Saves in 2023.
Spencer Strider? Braves aren’t about to move him into a closing role, especially when they have A.J. Minter, Raisel Iglesias, acquired Joe Jimenez, and have Kirby Yates returning next year, along with a few other prominent names like Nick Anderson, Lucas Luetge, and Collin McHugh, and even moreso considering that Strider did just as good, if not better as a starting pitcher than as a reliever last year.
Munoz’ numbers are video games numbers, man. A 40% K rate with a 6% BB rate?! And that’s coupled with a 52% GB rate! That is just insane, just like his 102MPH FB.
They really are- to your point, I’d also add his whiff rate on his Slider. Andres had a filthy 50.8% Whiff Rate on that pitch. In other words his slider is SO dominant literally half the time it’s thrown to Major League hitters they swing and miss!
His slider is good but that 103 MPH FB is what makes it even better. You have to pretty much guess about the same time the ball leaves his hand. Probably before.
Fraham Flexen will be traded right before or during ST. He is a useful piece to us but could more than likely bring back a decent minor league guy maybe 2 depending on how bad teams want him.
Wrong. Chris Flexen will be closing games this year and for a while after signing a 9 year 63 million deal with a 5 million vesting option
Is this Chris Flexen? It’s possible will see Flexen once again as a long man in the pen, though his opportunities may be few if the rotation keeps it up..
What a bullpen!
The sky is the limit with this Mariners team.
Or maybe not even the sky.
Mariners all the way!
Yeah, the pen does look strong.
Is that the same as cloud nine? Fred
Yes, Lee.
Cloud Nine.
Darn, I thought Donnie Sadler was making a comeback.
Munoz has an electric fastball and good slider. If the arm stays healthy thats a steal of a contract for Seattle.
Mariners are adept at finding and developing bullpen talent. Munoz is a beast. Hope Sadler returns to form.
@Fred Park @Stevil @Fink Ployed @ayrbhoy @Larry Bernandez 1324IM you guys think Muñoz is “the guy” from day one until further notice? Sewald has been a revelation last couple of years as the head of the committee but can we all agree that it’s time? And also, get the guy a walk up song like Diaz.
Munoz will put an end to the bp committee chat. No one in that pen has his stuff.
His elite stuff might make him more useful in the setup role. Shut down the fire and then hand the ball to the closer for a clean 9th. Closers today are a bit overrated in how they’re used.
Servais has shown in recent years that he will bring in his best reliever during high leverage situations and not necessarily 9th innings. I think they’re comfortable mixing and matching 9th inning opportunities. I’d put Munoz at 10-20 saves this year with Sewald getting 20-25 and a few coming from other sources. That could easily change though. Bullpens are a crapshoot.
I don’t recall Sugar coming in the 7th or 8th inning very much. What did he get like 55-58 saves one year.
Munoz will be a 40 save guy this year. Sewald is a very solid set up guy, nowhere near the stuff of Munoz.
If you watch 162 M’s games a year like I do (I know, it’s really quite sad,) you’d see that there will be dozens of games where the opposing teams most feared hitters will come around for their final AB in the 8th inning. If Servais has a lead in those situations he will send Muñoz to face those middle order bats in the 8th because they are the most important outs of the game.
If Muñoz (and his ridiculous 50.8% whiff rate on his slider,) retires those hitters Sewald gets the Save when he comes in to get the next 3 outs in the 9th. In the last couple months of the 2022 yr Matt Brash was the “Pivot man.” The RPer used in situations where he’s asked to protect the lead with RISP
If you watch 162 M’s games a year like I do (I know, it’s really quite sad,) you’d see that there will be dozens of games where the opposing teams most feared hitters will come around for their final AB in the 8th inning. If Servais has a lead in those situations he will send Muñoz to face those middle order bats in the 8th because they are the most important outs of the game.
If Muñoz (and his ridiculous 50.8% whiff rate on his slider,) retires those hitters Sewald will continue to get Saves when he comes in to get the next 3 outs in the 9th. I’d bet a weeks pay that Muñoz doesn’t get 40+ saves for this reason alone!
Vavra playing 1B, yeah sure.
However Baltimore’s thrist for a lefty 1B has got to make Ryan Mountcastle a little indignant. Dude is a very good hitter, and a very good 1B (whatever thats worth…but Ryan was a SS when drafted, so he’s got a pretty solid tools on Defense).
And before folks get all “The wall!! Mount Baltimore kills RH hitters!”, Ryan Mountcastle is about as true an up-the-middle hitter as there is. (Last year in fact, he had less pulled balls than away balls). I love his bat speed (fastest Oriole bat?). I hope Ryan is taking the off-season to put a big chip on his shoulder!
Last year was Ryan’s sophomore slump…just wait.
(but Vavra learning 1B don’t hurt nobody.)
I love the idea of trying to get Vavra’s bat into the lineup. Can take a walk (unlike many of the Os), and has some solid bat to ball skills. Nice to see some ducks on the pond instead of just solo singers that we often settle for. If he can show a level of comfort at 1B, he could be a super utility infielder and maybe even some RF. We should see how to get him as many ABs as possible to see what we have in him unless somehow one of the multitude of lefty 1Bs we are inviting to Sarasota makes a strong showing and forces himself onto the plane north to Baltimore and the 40 man. I’d guess that it would be with strong defense and some power. Doesn’t appear that Vavra is really known of his power.
MacGromit — Yeah, Vavra is a classic “pesky” hitter; takes his BB’s, fights off pitchers pitches, deep counts
When the Orioles win the WS in 26, Adley and Gunnar will definitely be those straws that stir those frothy orange beverages, but watch out for Terrin! “Put me in coach. I’ll pop wood on ball for ya”. Gamer. Just like the Demper in 83; WS MVP vibes abound. Have at it Terrin, have at it!
O’sSay: appreciate your take on Mountcastle. Hope last year was just a sophomore slump. I’m skeptical. Contrast in body language, demeanor at the plate from 21 to 22 was concerning to me. Mt. Waltimore did not and will not affect all RH batters, but when you’re paid to hit dingers like Ryan, it’s gotta mess with his head. And yes, agreed, he’s more alley to center with his ball placement, but still, hope LF dimension change ain’t messing with his head! Cheers!
@ Jeff and O’sSay – Mountcastle was among the unluckiest guys in 2022. He definitely had a few big hits taken away from all parts of the field. And the Wall definitely impacted him at home. But he had a couple of deep drives in gaps as well (I think TOR got two of his to RC). He’ll get his in 2023, but not sure he’s a 30+ HR guy in OPACY.
#BringBackSimonHampton
I suspect it’s ultimately between Munoz and Brash for #1 bullpen arm.. On another team, Brash would keep trying to make it as a starter, but with Castillo, Ray, Kirby, Gilbert, Bryce Miller et al, that just may never be his path in Seattle..
The Ms also have this guy, Isaiah Campbell, another converted starter who is going to be nearly impossible to keep off the major league roster by June. (And Prelander Berroa, once they determine he’ll never have the control to start).
I just bought Lindys Baseball magazine and they predict Seattle finishing behind Houston and Texas and out of the playoffs. Texas has made improvements but I just can’t see Seattle not making it over them with that pitching staff.
If Sadler comes back strong and Munoz and Sewald even remotely repeat their performances the M’s def have one of the top bps in the league. I can see why Buster Olney is so in love with this team.
I like brash more as a starter still. Give him another run at SP thru spring training. He Def has better stuff than flexen or marco. Munoz is the future closer and I think sewald may have to adapt to that cuz he has some of the best reliever stuff in the game. I read some where opponents bat .141 vs his slider. Honestly this might be best bullpen in baseball with 6th = murfee 7th = diego 8th = sewald CL = munoz
Brash as a SP? So do the Mariners- in fact he was preparing to do just that until he decided to pitch (as a RPer) in the WBC for Team Canada.
The Mariners FO (and Brash) didn’t want to “yo-yo between” both roles for the start of the 2023 season.
This should tell you that if the M’s need another SP due to injuries or a future trade Matt Brash could still pitch as a SP later in the 2023 season.
What have I missed? This Varas guy there talking Orioles here what’s up with that? I’m wondering out loud If the M’s are going to pick up another bat? I would suppose that it might happen since the hitting remains a ? Mark it may well benefit them to do so but then there’s no hurry as the right deal could manifest itself. at some point.
@lee cousins, This “Quick Hits” covered 1 Orioles player, Varas, in addition to 2 Mariners players.
Confusing as heck. I think most Orioles fans missed seeing his name completely.
I think 2 posters misspelled his name.
@Samuel, Yup. Including me.
Vavra, then, for the record.
Maybe it’s time for me to hang it up.
Or just shut up.
Of the worst trades in the past five years, where does the Andres Munoz trade rank? It was pretty awful.
You must be a Padres fan, Munoz was at the time was on the mend which the Padres were making a push for a playoff spot. Munoz was just getting started when injuries shut him down we benefited from it, no doubt about it
I don’t think Munoz gets a traditional closer role. If the 3-4-5 hitters are due in the 7th you’ll see Munoz. Little surprised I haven’t seen Brash kicked around as the closer, I think his stuff is perfect for that role.
It appears they have multiple closers as well as those who might pass as one.