The Mariners have agreed to a deal with right-hander Nick Wittgren, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post (via X). The contract is presumably a minor league pact, as Wittgren was previously playing on a minors deal with the Royals before he became a free agent earlier this week. Since Wittgren has over five years of MLB service time, he had the right to choose free agency when the Royals tried to option him to Triple-A.
A veteran of eight MLB seasons, Wittgren was released by the Cardinals in July 2022 and didn’t land with a new club until signing his minor league contract with the Royals in December. K.C. selected him to the 26-man roster in May, and Wittgren had a 4.97 ERA over 29 innings in Royal blue.
It’s not a big improvement over his 5.32 ERA with Cleveland and St. Louis in 2021-22, but while advanced metrics indicate that Wittgren was a little unlucky to post such an ERA in those seasons, his SIERA this year is 5.03. While Wittgren hasn’t really been a big strikeout pitcher throughout his career, his K% has plummeted over the last two seasons. He has done an excellent job of keeping the ball in the park in that same time span, yet batters have been making hard contact.
Wittgren did pitch well at Triple-A Omaha this year, and he was a very reliable bullpen arm in his heyday as recently as the 2020 season. The 32-year-old will give the Mariners some more experienced relief depth as they prepare to try and thread the needle between staying in contention and managing the innings of their several young pitchers. Seattle is already set to go to a six-man rotation to help keep everyone fresh for the pennant race (and, the M’s hope, into October), and more bullpen help will also be required.
Well the Mariners have been doing everything else right, so this probably is too.
I don’t know much about Wittgren, but I’ll go with the winning process every time.
Fred- Do you ever say anything negative about a Mariner transaction?
Sure Leach, any time I see something I think is really negative or foolish or pointless or worthless, I will remark on it.
But it has been a while since I have seen anything worth mentioning.
Yes Fred! They haven’t made bad trades just lately, and they’ve had especially good luck with relievers when it comes to finding some diamonds in the rough.
Hi Slothcliff. We don’t have to apologize for being fans, do we?
Leach, I don’t read these articles looking to see if there is anything I can possibly attack.
To do that would be the sign of a weak or possibly diseased mind.
These articles are for fans of the game. I am a fan.
The last couple years, the Seattle
Mariners have parlayed their youth, skill and energy into being a strong second half team.
If Kaufman stadium isn’t big enough to hold his pitching, I doubt Safeco Field will be any different. Got to be someone in their minor league system with better stuff than him.
Don’t forget about that pesky marine layer, as well. It’s a game changer come Spring and Fall.
It worked for gabe speier…
Seattle’s training staff will turn him into another 20 game winner.
That would be incredible coming out of the bullpen…
Probably a nothing move, but it also cost nothing, so no foul.
Look at that AL West race now. Seattle only 3 games back from the Rangers. Seattle just swept Houston in Texas. There is electricity in the air with this team. Fun times for M’s fans. Will be a riotous five weeks to the endgame.
Finally, ignorant Son-of-a-b, somebody here has got his head on straight.
Thanks for saying this!
That’s what baseball is all about. Wake up, you other people!
It’s okay Fred. I like the Mariners being under-estimated. We can watch with quiet confidence as they climb up the standings. They’ve got the MOJO working now, that’s for certain. Crawford coming back tomorrow. And the secret weapon in September may be getting Kelenic back. Imagine him putting up numbers like he did in April ?? Kelenic Julio Teo all in high gear at once will be a sight to behold.
I can hardly wait to get to the Kingdome to see them play this week. With all of the smoke, the games would be canceled if they weren’t indoors!!