The Mariners have signed left-hander Anthony Banda to a minor league deal, per Mike Curto, broadcaster for the Tacoma Rainiers, Seattle’s Triple-A team.
Banda, 28, joins his third organization of the year, as he began the season with the Pirates but was designated for assignment and traded to the Blue Jays in July. He lasted a month with the Jays before being a roster casualty on deadline day, getting bumped out of the picture when the Jays made several additions to the club. After clearing waivers, he was eligible to reject an outright assignment and return to the open market by virtue of having been previously outrighted in his career.
Between the Pirates and Blue Jays, Banda has thrown 26 innings on the year with a 5.88 ERA, though much more impressive peripherals. He has a 23.2% strikeout rate, 6.4% walk rate and 33.3% ground ball rate. A .446 batting average on balls in play seems to be pushing that ERA up, leading to all advanced metrics valuing Banda as deserving better. He has a 4.34 xERA, 3.92 FIP, 3.92 xFIP and 3.45 SIERA this year.
For the Mariners, adding another lefty to their system is fairly sensible, given their dearth of options in that department. Ryan Borucki was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier today due to a flexor strain, with Brennan Bernardino being recalled to take his place as the only southpaw in the big league bullpen. The only other lefty on the 40-man roster that’s not in the big league starting rotation is Justus Sheffield, who was been working as a starter in the minors. Banda will add to the club’s thin crop of left-handed relief depth.
This guy used to drive a mean cab back in the 80’s, I think he’s still got it. Ahahaha!
Ha ha, ho ho. …
I meant the cab not the man. Ahahaha!
Why is everyone ignoring this comment?
(except of course for the 2 idiots)
The Mariners are short of left-handers in the bullpen and this guy Banda is pretty good. It’s the peripherals that I look at when a guy hasn’t had many innings. ERA alone is misleading.
We may see him later this season.
@Fred, just because me & Jon are attending the village idiots convention doesn’t necessarily make us idiots too. Lighten up Park. Ahahaha!
Sure, kid.
But how about my question?
Why are people suddenly not commenting?
Honestly I have no idea Fred
No longer a Banda on the run , he’s now a sailor man
I’m wondering about Sheffield he was given an opportunity back when only he couldn’t figure it out so down he goes, comes up again but back down he goes I’m now wondering if he will remain a AAA jouneymen.