2:55pm: MLBTR’s Steve Adams reports that Flexen can reject an outright assignment while retaining his whole salary. Unless the Mariners work out a trade in the next week, he will almost certainly wind up on the open market.
2:10pm: The Mariners announced that right-hander Trevor Gott has been reinstated from the injured list with fellow righty Chris Flexen designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Flexen losing his roster spot is totally unsurprising given his results this season but it’s a shocking turn of events compared to where things stood just a few months ago. After a successful stint in the KBO in 2020, Flexen returned to North America by signing a two-year deal with the Mariners, with an option for 2023 as well.
The guaranteed portion of that agreement went quite well, with Flexen tossing 317 1/3 innings over 2021 and 2022 with a 3.66 ERA. His 16.5% strikeout rate in that time wasn’t especially strong, but his 6.8% walk rate showed strong control. He also did a good job keeping the ball from going over the fence, as his 8.8% home run per fly ball rate was third-best in the league among pitchers with at least 300 innings pitcher. His pitcher-friendly ballpark may have had an impact but his 3.75 road ERA was only slightly higher than his 3.57 mark at T-Mobile Park.
The 2023 option on his contract could be vested at $8MM if Flexen tossed 300 innings over the first two years, which he did. With the M’s having five other rotation options in Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Robbie Ray, Logan Gilbert and Marco Gonzales, that led to Flexen getting interest in trade talks over the offseason.
The Mariners ultimately held onto Flexen for some extra rotation depth, which seemed like a wise move when Ray quickly landed on the injured list and eventually required Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately, Flexen couldn’t step up and take the open rotation spot, getting torched for a 10.38 ERA in four starts before getting bumped back to the bullpen.
His next five outings were scoreless but he’s allowed at least one earned run in his past seven appearances. Whatever skill or luck he previously deployed to prevent home runs has eluded him this year, as he’s already given up 11 long balls, leading to a 21.6% HR/FB rate that’s more than double his clip from the previous two campaigns. Overall, he has a 7.71 ERA on the year in 42 innings, which has bumped him off Seattle’s roster.
The Mariners will now have a week to trade Flexen or pass him through waivers. He garnered interest over the winter and some of those clubs could now circle back, especially with so many pitching injuries throughout the league, though Flexen’s poor results this season will obviously tamp down whatever trade value he previously had. With approximately $4.1MM still remaining on his contract, the M’s would surely have to swallow some or all of that in order to facilitate a deal.
As for the waiver route, that will be an interesting factor here. Normally, players with more than three years of service time can reject an outright assignment in favor of electing free agency, but they require five years of service to do so while retaining their salary. Assuming those normal rules apply and Flexen goes on to clear waivers, he obviously wouldn’t leave that money on the table and would therefore stick in the Mariners’ organization as depth. However, players coming from stints in other countries like Japan, Korea or Cuba often have language in their contracts that allows them to circumvent the normal service time rules. For instance, MLBTR confirmed this winter that Flexen would become a free agent after 2023 even though he would be well shy of six years’ of service time. Whether the M’s can potentially keep Flexen as depth or not will have an impact on how much they are willing to trade him.
Wow
The Yankees should be in on Flexen, probably low risk/ high reward pitcher who might just need of scenery. M’s could have a prospect in Yankees 20-30 range.
Not sure of his status, but if exposed how can this guy not get claimed? Phils hoping and waiting on the phone yet?
Arb eligible in ’24.
He’s not that good, a failed starter who’s even had some rough outings in the bullpen this year.
Yeah it’s that last bit that will make him popular I’d guess. Not too often you can buy a guy with some MLB success in his background for $4m, and get 3 years of arbitration control after that. Heck, if I’m a rich team I do it and stash him in the pen rest of season, pitching in blowouts only, just to see if maybe I get lucky and have a super cheap back end starter in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
@seama this, 100% this.
As the article states, he’s a FA after ’23. This means there is no additional years of control. $4.1MM for this year only.
Contract status states Flexen is a UFA in 2027.
Padres. Need the depth and hopefully they can fix him.
agreed on this being a fit
although I was always surprised by his good results.. never had great stuff
Someone will grab him, he’s been a solid back end guy for a couple years prior to this one, but I don’t think he’s cut out for bullpen or swing guy use.
Wonder if the kid GM is still napping.
He’s 28 years old, has had recent success, and 5 million dollars isn’t a deal breaker for teams that spend way more. He’s going to get someone to buy in.
He’s not cut out for starting either. He doesn’t miss enough bats.
Not everyone is a #1. You need #4 and #5 starters too. How many teams #5 starters “miss enough” bats?..I’m guessing you haven’t seen “Flex” much, because even when he was successful in the 2 years prior to this one, he didn’t “miss” that many bats, because he’s a groundball, pitch-to-contact guy.
Thank you. Phillie’s #5 slot is like 3-14….
I saw enough of him as a Mets fan to know he stinks
Here’s hoping Christopher Sanchez can fill the bill for a portion of the 2023 season.
Are you saying he should close?
I think there’s next to no chance someone claims him for that price. They’ll be happy to pay him the minimum if he can elect FA without losing his cash.
Still due about 5 million for rest of season.
He must have a good agent if he got 10 mil for one year. I like him, but wouldn’t pay him 5 mil for half a season and no one else will either. Once he clears waivers, I can easily see 7+ teams having some level of interest.
He got 8 guaranteed for throwing 300 total innings the last two seasons, so more like 4 million owed. Somehow thought we were only 70 games through the season
Is he worth the gamble for 5 million, or just wait to re-sign him at league minimum?
Also, anyone else find it particularly sad for Flexen that he’s been DFAd to make room for Gott? (Who I looked up and seems to be pitching better than he has in years)
@kellin, I find it somewhat sad, yes.
He is only 28, but I believe the downward spiral has already started for Chris Flexen.
I wish he would prove me wrong and go to work for another team for a while. But for this player, I just don’t see it happening.
And maybe Gott is actually worth it. That remains to be seen, but I think he is like a pretty good car that now has 250,000 miles on it.
Another rough reminder that careers don’t last forever.
But Flexen earned his keep, and maybe that’s really all anyone can ask of a man.
Rays will pick him up and next year will be cy young
Or at worst, Sean Young.
He could be Anthony Young, but he’d have to stay on a roster long enough to get 28 straight losses.
I just looked him up. I didn’t realize he died 6 years ago today… RIP Anthony.
Jordan Lyles was making a decent run at it til winning his last start
Cy Young? More like Neil Young. Flexed is NOT a good Pitcher.
Massive missed opportunity not selling high on him over the offseason.
Is his arm falling off? I’m just asking a question.
No, his sky is falling.
Fallin’ or flexen’?
Word on the street in Bridgeport is that he is about to sign a minor league deal with the Whitesoxs . Stay tuned
Flexen had a quirk in his contract that allowed him to reach free agency after this season anyway. If he’s not claimed due to his salary, I imagine he would accept an outright and I could see the M’s actually doing that.
Why would he agree to that? He can decline assignment and still get paid his full salary.
Obviously he wouldn’t, but that’s another quirk in his contract that wasn’t initially reported. It was assumed by all before this update that he wouldn’t have that option due to having only 2.107 days of service time, hence why they even bothered to report it.
I don’t know how the Rockies don’t claim this guy. They have 1 definite and maybe 2 more actual big league arms in the rotation at the moment and even that is pushing it. And there isn’t much in the minors on the pitching side of things for a while.
They won’t. If they–or any other team–were to claim him, they’d be responsible for the remainder of his 2023 salary.
The Rockies also paid Jose Urena $3MM this year. They took on Lamet’s salary like that as well.
I don’t think any team would do it but if there ever was one—-it’s Colorado.
I am aware of that. I am also aware that $4.1MM is not that much for a starting pitcher in MLB. Especially if you have the ability to keep him next year as well. And when you are starting guys like Karl Kauffmann, Connor Seabold, Noah Davis, and Chase Anderson…Flexen would be worth the money.
And they could always flip him in a month or so if he could string together a few decent starts.
7.71 ERA; 6.65 FIP, resulting mostly from pitcher-friendly stadiums.
And he hasn’t started a game since April 23rd.
Colorado needs help, no question. But claiming Flexen makes zero sense.
There is more data for Flexen than just the past two months. It could just be a bad couple of months, especially since he was used erratically. If he was put into a rotation and given the ball every 5 days, he just might turn it around. I think it is worth the gamble.
Red sox could def use him considering all thier current pitching injuries
Wong player they DFA’d.
Bring up Hernandez. Gold glove 2B, good bb/k ratio.
If Marco wasnt on the IL, send him to StL for Edman. eat some cash in the deal.
Someone will give a Flexen a shot. Lots of teams need pitching and i could easily see the Phillies, Dodgers, Rays, Padres, Giants and others having interest
Cards trade DeJong and a little cash to even it out. M’s get serviceable infielder, Cards try to get some innings
Time for the Mets to get him back so he can redeem himself.
Not really a major leaguer at this point unfortunately. Roster spot better used by good teams on good players. Roster spot better used by bad teams on young players.
Now DFA wong and pollock. Have done zero to help the mariners win games this year. Play caballero at 2b rest of season and Mike ford at DH cuz at least he walks ans hits dingers. Those 2 acquisitions gotta be the some of the worst of the season. Could have paid Drury to play 2nd and I would rather have paid JD martineZ to be out everyday DH. Both not costing us too much either. Big whiff by dipoto on this
He will probably prefer a fresh start somewhere, but the timing of this is interesting because Gonzales had a setback, Dollard is now out for the season, along with McGee and Milone, and Seattle will want to be careful with the innings of both MIller & Woo (especially Woo).
If he were to accept the inevitable outright assignment after clearing waivers, there’s a fair chance he’d get another opportunity with the Mariners.
The clock struck midnight, and he turned back into the pumpkin he was in his Mets days. And boy, did he suck.
The Mets gave him every chance to win a starter spot and he struggled big time.
Hate to see him go on these terms, He provided a lot of great moments in Seattle.
Seattle doesn’t have the roster flexenability to carry him on the roster. He’s a good innings eater for team that had a lot of injuries, can’t make the playoffs, and need a starter to eat innings to get through the season. He would a Perfect pitcher for Detroit’s needs. The White Sox could use more flexenibility after they trade half of their starting rotation at the deadline.
I heard the Angels and the White Sox have had preliminary discussions about sending Giolito to the Angels for Tucker Davidson and Luis Rengifo.
Earlier on there was some thought about moving either Marco or Flexion in a trade. Now you couldn’t even get a candy bar for him.
Flexen not the the only one struggling, None of the rotation is having a good year. Since the pressure is on for them to have a no hitter.
Looks like his future might be as a long reliever/swing man. He might be able to provide value in a spot like that.