FEB. 18: It’s a two-year, $7MM guarantee, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. Giles will earn a $1MM salary in 2021 and a $5MM salary in 2022. There’s also a $9.5MM option or a $500K buyout for 2023. Additionally, the contract features a $500K signing bonus.
FEB. 11: The Mariners are in agreement on a two-year contract with free-agent reliever Ken Giles, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Shannon Drayer of ESPN 710 first reported the news. Giles is a client of Rowley Sports Management.
Because he underwent Tommy John surgery as a member of the Blue Jays on Oct. 1, Giles will not be able to help the Mariners in 2021. However, if his recovery goes well, Giles’ history suggests he will emerge as a valuable part of the Mariners’ bullpen the next season. Giles, after all, has logged a 2.74 ERA/2.57 SIERA with well-above-average strikeout and walk rates (33.3 and 7.7 percent, respectively) across a combined 351 innings with the Phillies, Astros and Jays. The 30-year-old right-hander has also converted 115 of 130 save attempts and averaged better than 97 mph on his fastball.
Giles’ elbow issues limited him to 3 2/3 frames last year, but it would be difficult to find many relievers who were harder to face in 2019. That season, Giles threw 53 innings of 1.87 ERA/2.49 SIERA ball and ended up sixth among bullpen arms in K-BB percentage (31.7).
Man must be punching himself right now.
top comment right here
“Sentimental” -Kenny g
#gotheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem
How so?
@Lamar
Look up ken Giles punching himself in the face on youtube…..then you will get the joke lol it was a good one
Wow did not see this coming… Makes scene though.
Scene?
The beginning scene of his 3rd act perhaps?
Smart move for the Mariners. Giles is a very good closer.
Great pickup. I’m assuming they’re getting him cheap. Excellent buy low candidate.
Not sure why the Jays didn’t re-sign him, let him recover and have him ready to roll in 2022. Seemed like Giles and the Jays had a good relationship.
He did have a good relationship with the ‘Jays.
He was just so annoyed with you that he wanted to go elsewhere.
Stevil couldn’t wait to leave onlyfans to login and type more nonsense. Good stuff. Still waiting for a logical baseball take from you. Tick took. Tick tock.
I honestly don’t even know what ‘onlyfans’ is, nor do I care to know. I don’t know what “Tick took’ means, either.
But I am confident you’ll find a sense of humor before you realize you’re out of your league in these discussions.
Somewhere there was a suggestion that minimal salary in 2021 and max 2022 would get him signed
Terrific move! This M’s team is low key way better than the Angels!!!
Y’all know he got TJ like 2 months ago. He ain’t pitching until 2022
These moves have happened before with TJ guys in their walk year. But thanks.
Im sure rangers29 knew that, he’s the smartest commenter there is.
We know Nebraska is not.
If you got a crush on me, just come out and say it, dude.
You don’t impress anyone enough to be a crush. Stop whining.
🙁
I hate it when mom & dad fight.
4 months ago, and yes I realized that. I still think the M’s are better than the Angels though. Better pitching, and better prospects emerging. Just a better team.
That’s a bit of a stretch dude
Not really. Their outfield has the potential to be the best young outfield in the MLB with Kelenic, Rodriguez and Lewis. They also have Haniger who is a beast when healthy. Add Crawford and White to the mix as well as Gonzalez, Sheffield, Hancock and Gilbert and that is a scary amount of good young talent almost all at the minimum. You supliment that with some veteran free agents along with probably 2 more top ten picks and you have the makings of a monster team.
Both of those teams are absolute trash. Why are we even debating which is worse?
Can you please stop pretending to be a teenager. Kinda creepy Man.
tj was done late september, giles is going to be completely physically ready for spring training 2022
Not even close to better and the angels are terrible. Lewis hit 450 in august. He will never do that again and will disappear w time.
And is this Seattle’s first move ? Which really isn’t even a move considering they added a player to their IR
Just curious though. Why are u high on them ??
Lmao Kyle Lewis isn’t going anywhere. An unsustainable SSS like a .450 August average is hardly an indicator that he played over his head. And while I don’t think Seattle outpaces Anaheim– excuse me, LAA– this season, they should in 2022 and beyond.
Ooo one says Mariners are low key way better, the other says not even close to better.
What if they’re 1 game apart again (M’s ahead by a game)?
Or split their season series again?
Mariners have Gonzales and Sheffield that look promising and signed for next few years is a strong starting point.
Kikuchi didn’t seem so brutal last year, may continue to improve.
Couple Gold Gloves on the infield doesn’t hurt things, just need to find some offense. Bizarro Angels?
Six players in MLBs top 100 prospect ratings, two are top 15, pretty strong second point.
M’s aren’t so far off from a .500 team before the prospects arrive.
Could definitely be exciting for M’s fans by 2022.
Filthy…it seems you are comparing two different commenters as if one opinion is linked to the other opinion. It makes anything you type seems silly when you lead with that.
It seemed like Rangers29 said the Mariners are low key way better than the Angels, and bot replied saying the Mariners are not even close to better. Sorry for being so silly to think the opinions would be linked.
Nice points in all but still….relying on prospects is a strategy that fails 4/5 times. Before this go around – Padres had the best system in minors and nearly everyone of those guys flopped. Like hitters, organizations adjust. And this time around – Padres are more willing to sign free agents while trading top prospects as much as anyone to put the best product on the field they can muster. Compared to most organizations who are terrified to trade their top prospects- even when competing for title (a la twins).
I don’t agree the angels are trending down – they’ll surely be ready to sign big names next offseason but for rest of west- there is room to gain ground. Maybe Seattle does it, but not much in upper management to hang a hat on from what I’ve seen.
You do realize that a major key to SD’s success last season had to do with two prospects they acquired from other organizations, right? They also blocked one (France) and used him as part of the package to acquire Nola.
You seem to think Seattle is banking on their prospects alone to win them a championship. They’re still figuring out what they have. Their best prospects have yet to debut, so it’s easy to understand why they haven’t invested heavily in free agents to this point.
That should change soon. Probably next offseason.
bot, he hit .455 in July–all 8 games with 36 PA’s. In August, he hit .286/.393/.490 with a .324 BABIP over the course of 117 PA’s. He adjusted to the first couple of changes, then struggled in September, but even his September stats are a bit misleading.
He went 0-11 Sept 9-11, then got a day off, returned and went 4-10 the next 3 games before facing yet another change to the approach against him and closing out the season with 7 walks to just 3 hits over the last 10 games.
When opponents gave him fastballs, he punished them, When they pitched him away, he hit singles. When they threw him nothing but breaking junk, he struggled, but walked as well. He appeared to be pushing the last handful of games, but he was disciplined over the majority of the season.
As I’m sure you know, baseball is a game of adjustments. Lewis showed that ability. He was a top pick for a reason and didn’t win ROY for being lucky. He very well could see some regression next season. He could also take a step forward. Nothing is definitive in baseball, but Lewis has the tools and skills to be a very fine outfielder and there’s no reason to doubt that at this moment.
Meanwhile, the Angels have spent, what, 100m+ on rebound candidates and projects this offseason? I hope it pays off, but they’ll be right back where they start every offseason in November: Shopping desperately for pitching.
Lewis likely isn’t a regular but could be and could be good. Likely a bit short of that. There will be lots of busts going forward. I’d still pencil him in. They have to see what they have and the glimpse they got is promising but like most young players he likely falls slightly short of that. I think the Mariners should be all over short term upgrades where money is all they have to part with. Especially the types that won’t block prospects or keep them from upgrading in a couple years if they’re finally in a position to add. Also adding long term pieces when the price is right. I don’t think any of this off-seasons free agents fit the bill to be long term pieces for the Mariners but there have been lots of short term pieces that could help take pressure of having to run out struggling prospects and young players. I hope they come up with something before April. Plus I hate watching teams just suck when they could improve. Even when they’re rebuilding. Maybe thats just me.
@rangers
@Nebraska
Nah these are 2 of the better commentors on this site, guys know there baseball.
For a number of posters, I find the problem isn’t so much a lack of baseball knowledge as it is letting their homerism or trolling urges take over. Have a Cubs fan talk about the White Sox and you’ll hear endless, “You haven’t won anything yet. We’ve been to the playoffs every year for a while now.” (That goes the other way and happens with fans of just about every team.) Talk to them about the Mets, D’Backs, or Angels and you’ll usually get a decent response.
To the question “why would you be so high on the Mariners” it’s because they have a fantastic crop of young players. No matter how many times it happens people look at a roster and dont see big names or they arent signing big free agents. All young players are no names at one point and they havent signed anyone because they dont need to. Seattle has one of the best group of prospects in baseball, Angel’s have a bunch of old players and free agents. I will take a deep group of top prospects anyday. Therefore Seattle has the better team, maybe not this second on paper, but you will see
Please stop posing as a teenager on here. Kinda creepy.
Two year 5 million with a team option with a million dollar buyout?
Will hold them over until Munoz is ready to take over the closers role
Giles literally just had TJ surgery he won’t be pitching in the bigs until 2022…
Literally? Ok
No, not literally. Months ago.
You are literally correct.
Literary. I think I read something about that.
Ramirez, Middleton, Munoz, Misiewicz, Graveman, Montero, Giles.
That may be a decent bullpen.
Munoz was a great get in the Nola deal. He threw absolute gas before his TJS.
A lot of guys throw harder after TJ. Scary to think that Munoz could throw harder than before his surgery…
I am fast forwarding to 2022.
*in 2020
Padres had success doing this with Garrett Richards this past year, so great move.
M’s fans will be mad it’s not a move for this year, but it’s still a good move that helps the team eventually. We also have plenty of time to add some supplemental pieces to the squad before April 1st.
If he punches himself out, how will he pitch? He must wait till after he pitches.
Few more years and M’s will be ready to take over that division.
Why, are the other teams leaving the division?
Ahahahaha!
LOL, ok that was a good one
I really like what I see, maybe they will spend some money next year too
I was kinda hoping TO would offer a 2 year pay-to-recover deal banking on the second year. He was great when he had the ball.
Not gonna lie, totally forgot he was a free agent. Great pickup by the M’s!
Well there you go
In the time it takes you to read this comment, Ken Giles will have given up another 3 postseason dingers.
Given that Stros and A’s seem to be on a downward trajectory, the Angels can’t get out of their own way, and the the Rangers are….well, a few years away; Jumpin’ Jerry’s playin’ for 2022, and it might work.
Astros and A’s “downward trajectory” isn’t moving fast enough for the M’s to be relevant this decade. The Angels and Rangers will be back on top before those morons from Washington state.
Morons? Gimme a break. Or you 12….or one of THOSE people?
Sounds like someone is channeling their political feelings or something. Or you’re just entirely oblivious to the best farm system in baseball.
Yeah, not a M’s fan, but I really like what they’re doing. That OF, especially, could be elite. Mariners fans have quite a bit to be excited about. Probably won’t seriously challenge for the division this year, but could own it over the next half decade after that.
Keep your left up, Ken!
Oh…wait…that’s not going to matter is it.
DiPoto already looking ahead to the ’22 season (if there is one)
It will be interesting to see how much longer Dipoto has himself…. It was only supposed to be a 1-2 year step back. Surely he got a mulligan for 2020, but how much mediocrity will ownership continue to accept ?
Nice pick up as long as he’s physically and mentally healthy.
They signed the fist?
I like Giles but is this not a waste of a 40-man roster spot? At least for the 2021 season?
No because he’ll be on the IL all season
The only time that will matter is after the 2021 season when he will need to be activated off IL and onto 40-man. He can be on IL and off 40-man all ‘21
Similar structure as Kahnle deal for the Dodgers. Pay two years to play in 2022. I’d think that Giles is slightly more expensive but wondering why the Dodgers chose Kahnle over Giles. Both good relievers.
Pick him up cheap, hope he plays well the following season, flip him at the deadline.
Maybe the Mariners will be in contention in 2022. Not exactly a string division a d they have a strengthening farm.
Whoa nelly!!
Jerry making his move.
I think many Mariner fans are just happy they did something, even if the potential benefit is a year away.
Good for Ken. I loved him as a Jay. He grew up and matured and wasn’t the self-harming nutjob he was in Philadelphia and in Houston. Mariner fans will love him too.
he’ll always be known for his great right jab
He logged some pretty good innings but lots of nail items as well. A bit too psycho for me. Not sure how good he was in the clubhouse.
How bad were the M’s in 20′?
Where would they have been in the standing IF the BP hadn’t blown so many games?
My rough guess, looking thru the games: 5 maybe 6 game were handed to the pen with the M’s leading and they punted the lead.
Those 5 games would have put them in a WC spot.
What has JD don’t for 21′- added some exp BP arms. Not high end, but significant improvements from last year.
Add haniger and murphy’s bats to the lineup- bamm!
The Mariners would’ve been a wild card team with only an average pen in ‘20
Starting the season with baseball’s youngest roster, the 2020 Seattle Mariners posted the ninth-best record in a league that sent eight teams to the postseason. The Mariners have seven prospects currently on at least one Top 100 list despite last year graduating Kyle Lewis, Justus Sheffield, Justin Dunn and Evan White, all of whom are former Top 100 prospects.
I think Kikuchi alone had the ‘pen blow 5 of his starts.
Murphy feels like a poor man’s Zunino and Haniger feels like a dice roll at this point. Just as much chance he’s toast as being a good player. Bullpen looks better but projecting a bullpen is not for the faint or heart.
I like where it’s going but wouldn’t be surprised if this is a continue to reimagine year. I do like all the interesting young talent and could see them being a dark horse type team soon.
Also the rebuild has a good chance of being disappointing in the end even if it looks good on paper.
Terrible Dipoto, this guy’s to inconsistent to sign this type of 2 year deal, and to pitch one, but that’s Jerry for yah.
Lovely clubhouse presence for the young Mariners
sarcasm
M’s have the prospects, a current good young core, tons of salary cap space, along with an expiring contract in Kyle Seager next year and no more payments to the Mets for Canó. They have the freedom to make lots of salary moves this upcoming season to make a legit run in 2022.
Plus, Jarred Kelenic, Logan Gilbert, and Cal Raleigh should be making their debuts. Its a fun time to be a Mariner again.
There’s ALOT of teams that will have expiring contracts and money to speed in 22′.
We can expect jerry not to be going into bidding wars with the elite players and doling out $100m++++ contracts.
As a Jays fan… when Giles is on, he’s ON. Shuts it down. He freaks out all the time and gets “hurt” though. Reminds me of John Papelbon minus the rings
Giles is a flame throwing weird dude who has historically collapsed under big pressure. Very unpopular in Houston during a time the team was loved by all. Maybe he’s grown up but weird is usually in the hard drive.
Osuna wasn’t any better in crunch time.
Can’t disagree.
#NationalWineDrinkingDay …Some of you guys need a glass .
No doubt the Jays ‘high performance’ department in Dunedin could have helped him with his rehab from Tommy John. He and his family apparently really liked Toronto. Oh well.
M’s also have an improved high performance/analytics dept. plus they have driveline right in their backyard.
The signing of Giles confirms, for all of us, the Mariners, despite Dipoto and Servais pronouncement that the Mariners would win this year, what we’ve always known is winning just doesn’t matter.
There was zero reason to continue to slow play this team, other than the fact that the Mariners franchise has always embraced losing and what’s another season of it?
Who is at 2nd and 3rd next year, both productive offensive positions? Going to be pricey, not to mention the price of a frontline pitcher
Who is on the pitching staff? Who, praytell, is the ace?
Doesn’t add up to a playoff spot, not even the first team of the bottom half, but we will hear about how we just missed out, that we were right there until the last month.
Then the 2nd extension will be announced,, third contract in 6 years despite no showing for all 6 of those years.
All of your questions and concerns will be answered this season and next off season.
You get anything remotely close to what Giles did in 2019 and this deal will look like a bargain.
Typical Tony garbage with zero insight or context
That option at the end just made a huge impact on how this deal should be viewed. Because he will likely have regained his elite stature to start ’23 (if all things go as planned) then his relevance to his role becomes central. This type of flexibility for the Mariners provides immeasurable upside. His trade value in ’22 becomes huge. An elite ’23 could provide the Mariners with a starting point for competition. Ultimately, Dipoto is making a very smart investment betting on Giles returning to form.
Internally the Mariners expect to content in 22. And the loyalists around here concur. This team is so deep in talent it honest makes me laugh that nobody has noticed.
Not a lineup persay but, in 2022 they should look like
Kelenic CF
Lewis RF
Rodriquez LF
White 1b
Moore 2b
Crawford as
Marte 3b
Seager DH
Gilbert
Hancock
Gonzales
Sheffield
Kikuchi
Paxton (personal I believe he extends)
The bullpen is full of ex closers at this point
They will be a very balanced team, and the al west is shifting. The astros are on the decline and the As will always be the west “Rays”. The angels are just a lost cause and the rangers well they got off on the wrong exit at some point. lol
I don’t like this deal much at all. So, 7m for 1 year, and 1 year in which pitchers struggle a bit there first year back from TJS.
What are you talking about?
2021 – $1.5M
2022 – $5M
2023 – $500k buyout or $9.5M
So you get up to three years and if he doesn’t bounce back, most do from TJ these days, you’re only out $7M total. If he regains form, you get a closer for start of your hopeful playoff push for a total $16M
What am I talking about? Just what I said. Coming off TJS, the first half season is generally not good, sometimes they balance it out a bit on the full season, but most likely not enough to pick up that 9m option. So why not just sign a solid RP in 2022 for 7m, without as much uncertainty? You can get a good one at 7m.
This is a terrible deal when you consider the fact that completely healthy relievers who are better have signed for less this off-season. Very strange risk to take here while overpaying the guy. The Dodgers have taken this approach a few times but they signed guys who were much better for significantly less money. Head scratcher.
The only guy better than a healthy Giles this offseason got 17 million a year, while Hand still got 10 million. Also I’m wondering who the Dodgers did this with but were much better and for less money.
I’ll go, usually these type deals are done with SP’s, there pay scale is a lot higher. But the deep pocket Dodgers have done it with a couple RP’s recently.
The bottom line, why not just go out and sign a solid RP in 2022 for 7m, with less the gamble.