The Mariners announced that they’ve outrighted reliever Casey Fien to Triple-A Tacoma, thus removing him from the 40-man roster. Fien’s spot on the 25-man roster will go to fellow right-handed reliever Evan Marshall, who has been recalled from Tacoma.
While the move also opens a 40-man spot, that’ll be accounted for, too. Minor league outfielder Boog Powell has been reinstate from the restricted list after serving an 80-game suspension for a failed PED test.
The 33-year-old Fien had a fairly solid bounceback run last year with the Dodgers, leading to a MLB deal with Seattle over the winter. It’s not immediately clear whether that contract includes language allowing the team to escape the full $1.1MM salary that it carried; per the reporting at the time, it came with a minor-league split salary.
Things didn’t go quite as hoped for Fien in the early going. In five outings, he was tagged for seven earned runs on seven hits (two of them long balls) and three walks, while logging five strikeouts. He was still showing a 93 mph average fastball, though, and was missing bats (16.9% swinging-strike rate) in his brief stint, so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see him back up — whether or not it’s with the M’s — at some point this year.
Marshall, who’l soon turn 27, was claimed recently off waivers. GM Jerry Dipoto is a long-time fan of the sinkerballer, who’s looking to return to the success he showed as a rookie back in 2014. Marshall hasn’t yet regained traction in the majors since suffering a scary skull fracture, but it seems he’ll get a shot at locking down a role in Seattle.
How can Fien be outrighted just like that? He pitched like 15 hours ago, how can he already have cleared waivers?
My guess would be that he still has an option and they designated him for assignment to remove him from the 40
He does have an option but doesn’t he still have to clear waivers if they’re going to outright him?
Could be a language thing, where they are implying he’s on waivers since he’s been outrighted. Doubt anyone claims him. Roster rules are certainly confusing to follow.
Actually I just went to the mariners website and read the announcement. He apparently cleared waivers Monday so they must have placed him on a few days ago but didn’t announce it
Nobody wants to pay $1.1 M for a reliever with an 11 ERA. He probably flew theough waivers like a Boeing jet.
He must still have minor league options
a 75 year old minor leaguer?!?!?
I’d be a little suspicious too!
The Yankees should sign him lol