The Mariners have agreed to a minor league contract with veteran reliever Ryan Dull, tweets FanSided’s Robert Murray. He’ll presumably head to their Triple-A affiliate to join their bullpen.
Dull, 31, debuted with the A’s back in 2015 and had a huge 2016 season, delivering 74 1/3 innings of 2.42 ERA ball (3.33 SIERA) with what was then a well-above-average 25.2 percent strikeout rate and an excellent 5.2 percent walk rate. He’s never replicated that success, but Dull managed solid K/BB numbers and respectable fielding-independent marks in 2017-18.
A 2019 season split between the A’s, Yankees and Blue Jays, however, was an utter disaster for the righty. Dull tallied just 12 2/3 innings in the Majors that year and was slammed for 19 runs (18 earned) on 25 hits (including five homers) and seven walks with 15 strikeouts.
Dull hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since that time. He’d signed back with the Jays on a minor league deal last winter but wasn’t part of their 60-man player pool when play resumed last summer. Dull inked a deal with the Winnipeg Goldeneyes of the independent American Association back in January, but he’ll now return to affiliated ball just a couple of weeks before the American Association was set to commence its season.
Mariners relievers have been excellent this season, pitching to a collective 2.55 ERA that ranks third in the Majors, while their 3.62 FIP is good for sixth-best among MLB clubs. There won’t be an immediate spot for Dull, but he’ll give the club an experienced depth option as the organization looks to manage workloads on a generally young pitching staff after last year’s shortened schedule.
No one else has said, so I will:
Dull transaction
I don’t know why they signed him. His command is definitely not sharp.
Actually his WHIP is very respectful across minors and majors (1.15/1.08). 2019 was an aberration, as for many pitchers (different baseball). That is not a perfect measure of control of course, but I think he is worth having as an “on deck” guy in case of injuries, additional rest, etc. LOTS of guys going down for 10 day IL stints this year.
Calm down buddy, it was just a play on his last name.
Who wasn’t calm?
Hiflew- that dry humor of yours! Never a dull moment
Actually his WHIP across majors and minors is very respectful (1.15/1.08) – not a perfect measure of command but does tell a story.
Makes absolutely no sense to me….
They have multiple injuries in their bullpen rn and they need to sign a SP to cause they got 3 hurt atm too I believe
Just depth- If you watched last nights game it would make more sense to you: K Middleton left the game after 4 straight FB’s that were 5 mph slower than his usual velo and nowhere near the K-Zone. The Paxton, Marco and Margevicious (more cabbages!) injuries will begin to tax that BP
Must be a Dull news day.
They signed him because we have ANOTHER pitcher most likely hitting the IL with Middleton straining his Bicep. He’ll make 5 total. 3 starters and 2 relievers. And since the mariners have a nasty habit of stuffing our relievers into the starter roll once our starters are taxed, it just becomes a circle of perpetuating Spaghetti-vs-wall rotating door of pitchers.
Let Logan Gilbert cook!
I saw Middleton at the weed store by my house an hour after the game last night with his arm in a sling. He said he doesn’t think it’s anything too major
I’m so excited for this Dull news!
At my age, this is exciting news. Of course, so are bowel movements.
Quality comment.
As long as it all comes out all right.
Is he dull? Or boring?