The Mariners announced on Thursday that they have released right-hander Anthony Bass so that he may pursue an opportunity with a team in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The specific team with which Bass will sign in Japan has not yet been reported.
The move comes as somewhat of a surprise, as Seattle had only just acquired Bass this offseason in a trade that sent Tom Wilhelmsen, James Jones and Patrick Kivlehan to the Rangers. (Seattle received center fielder Leonys Martin in the deal as well.) While Bass wouldn’t necessarily have been guaranteed a roster spot with the Mariners, he seemingly was in a good spot to land a bullpen spot behind new closer Steve Cishek and new setup man Joaquin Benoit. The 28-year-old was eligible for arbitration and projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to take home a $1.1MM salary in 2016, so Bass and his representatives at the Beverly Hills Sports Council probably received a fairly notable offer from the yet-unnamed overseas club. Typically, in these situations, the foreign team will also pay the MLB club some kind of cash considerations as compensation for releasing the player.
Bass spent the bulk of the 2015 season in the Rangers’ bullpen, working to a 4.50 ERA with 6.3 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and a 48.5 percent ground-ball rate in 64 innings of relief. He’s totaled at least 27 innings at the Major League level in each of the past five seasons, with the 2012 campaign representing his largest body of work (97 innings, including 15 starts for the Padres). In 278 1/3 innings, Bass has a 4.40 ERA and has averaged 6.1 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 to go along with a 47.8 percent ground-ball rate and a 92.6 mph fastball.
That’s great
So the Mariners give up Wilhelmsen, Jones, and Kivlehan for a defensive CF with questionable, at best, hitting abilities. Wow.
A pretty “meh” deal at this point, but Jones was never going to be a starter, Kivlehan wasn’t going to either, and Tom was really part of the issues the bullpen had the first half of the season.
Didn’t Texas DFA Jones anyway?
Basically. They non-tendered him and re-signed him to a minor league deal. Seattle could’ve technically re-signed him after the non-tender… the trade is Kivlehan and two years of Wilhelmsen for three years of Martin.
I dig having Martin in CF and hitting 9th.
Three years of Leonys Martin, who had accumulated 6.5 fWAR in his first three years of MLB service, for two years of Tom Wilhelmsen, who had accumulated 2.8 fWAR in his first four years of MLB service. James Jones and Patrick Kivlehan are spare parts.
Martin is a position player, Wilhemsen a reliever. More importantly, Texas fans hated Martin
And a position player generally is worth more than a reliever.
So they’ll probably go after another bullpen pitcher.
I’m an Angels fan and, as much as I wanted to like Jerry Dipoto (JeDi) during his tenure, for being a former reliever he really isn’t all that great of an evaluator of bullpens.
He did make the Angels bullpen a strength the past couple of seasons though, you have to admit
Was hoping Bass would end up on the Angels with Trout, and that Tim Salmon would come out of retirement.
But how could Bass turn down the opportunity to play for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp?
Touche.
Lol
Guessing he was on the 40-man. Could this be about opening a spot for an additional move?
No it’s about going to Japan
it’s about the fourth man roster
Yes, Bass is going to Japan but it also opens up a 40 man roster spot.
Anthony Bass, Randy Bass… Too bad Kevin Bass didn’t play in Japan, too.