The Mariners on Friday announced a trio of moves involving pitchers. The club selected southpaw Aaron Fletcher from its alternate training site, reinstated right-hander Yoshihisa Hirano from the injured list and placed lefty Taylor Guilbeau on the 10-day IL with a shoulder strain.
The Mariners will get their first look at Fletcher, a 14th-round pick of the Nationals in 2018. Along with Guilbeau and Elvis Alvarado, Fletcher joined Seattle last summer in a trade that delivered relievers Roenis Elias and Hunter Strickland to Washington. The 24-year-old Fletcher combined for a 3.72 ERA with 11.2 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 over 19 1/3 innings during his Double-A debut last year, and now ranks as the Mariners’ No. 21 prospect at MLB.com.
Like Fletcher, Hirano’s now in line to make his first appearance as a Mariner. The former Diamondback, 36, signed with the M’s for $1.6MM during the winter, but he hasn’t pitched this season as a result of a positive coronavirus test. He’ll bring a 119 1/3 innings of MLB experience with a 3.47 ERA/3.85 FIP, 9.05 K/9 against 3.39 BB/9, and a 47.7 percent groundball rate to the Mariners’ bullpen.
In terms of run prevention, Guilbeau has been excellent this year, as he has yielded only one ER and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings. However, he has managed just three strikeouts against six walks.
How is Altavilla and Swanson still on this team?
Exactly.
gotta catch the pirates somehow
Swanson is on the IL and Altavilla has had two bad outings that killed his numbers. His stuff is too good to cut him at this point in a rebuild season but he’s likely gonna be sooner than later
Swanson will be on the team til he mightly screws up cause he was apart of the Paxton deal. I just wished we traded Felix years ago while he was in his prime for some prospects
You don’t trade Felix at age 28.
There were ample times to trade Felix. Especially when we never made the playoffs and were a game away. Yes the players that year regressed the following year but the whole point of trading is like stocks sell
High buy low. He was in his prime fresh off a cy young. The farm was never that great and what ended up happening. He wasted away his best year for a club that never was going to make it. I just want one year when I can feel like a Yankees or Red Sox fan and just have faith in my front office to make our team great but it never happens.
FWIW Seattle righthander Dan Altavilla struck out the side on 12 pitches in the eighth inning of a Friday evening win against the Rangers:
mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-mariners/2020/08/21/631…
Exactly! 12 pitches- that’s why Altavilla is still on this team. His slider was unhittable, it was downright dirty oh and btw, it was at 90 mph! When he’s on, he’s closer material. Trouble is, when he’s not he starts trying to pitch like Wade LeBlanc looking for the edges. Let it rip Danny
Altavilla will probably be traded. When he’s on, which has been more times than not this season, he’s dominant. Last night was no exception.
After last nights appearance I won’t be surprised if Hirano is traded either, in fact we’d be foolish not to.
Is Aaron Fletcher related to David Fletcher? Asking for a friend…
Just about to ask that.
No it isn’t lol.
A. Aron? A. Aron? No sir, not at all, no relation. The Fletcher clan is awfully big
Hirano was one of the 2nd/3rd tier relievers I was hoping the Yankees would show some interest in last off-season. FIP of just over 4 (was under in ’18).
I’d imagine he’s auditioning for a role of; summer trade chip.
Yep
He does have a brother in the minors though, Dominic.
He’s an outfielder in the D’backs system.
Must be some proud parents there- one is going to make his ML debut and another is close.
Aaron Fletcher’s background is really interesting, really unique. From the ages of 8-10 he lived in Angola, then lived in the Baku, the Capitol city of Azerbaijan the next two years. He’s been to South Africa, Namibia, Turkey, UAE, the country of Georgia and France! Talk about well traveled. Since there’s no baseball in Angola and Baku his Pops taught him how to pitch on open fields while overseas.
Another thing I found interesting- Jarred Kelenic (our #1 prospect) was asked of all the pitchers in the alternate training site in Tacoma who was the nastiest to face. W/o hesitation he said Fletcher. He was an O fer 14 against him.
Fletcher has future closer written all over him. His stuff is filthy. A 2.33 ERA in 2 minor league seasons. Over his 2 yrs he limited oppo to .216 BA w 118 K/o’s in 104 ip. In the elite AFL he tossed 9.1 scoreless while holding guys to a .194BAA w 15 K/o’s Welcome to the big leagues kid. I hope you’re here to stay.