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Mariners Designate Chris Flexen For Assignment

By Darragh McDonald | June 27, 2023 at 2:55pm CDT

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.

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Newsstand Seattle Mariners Transactions Chris Flexen Trevor Gott

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Comments

  1. Samhaggertyplayoffhero

    3 months ago

    Wow

    5
    Reply
    • Captain-Judge99

      3 months ago

      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.

      1
      Reply
  2. cpdpoet

    3 months ago

    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.

    2
    Reply
    • Hammerin' Hank

      3 months ago

      He’s not that good, a failed starter who’s even had some rough outings in the bullpen this year.

      4
      Reply
    • seamaholic 2

      3 months ago

      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.

      4
      Reply
      • Bearded Texas Hulk

        3 months ago

        @seama this, 100% this.

        Reply
      • stymeedone

        3 months ago

        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.

        4
        Reply
        • Cmurphy

          3 months ago

          Contract status states Flexen is a UFA in 2027.

          Reply
  3. Math&Baseball

    3 months ago

    Padres. Need the depth and hopefully they can fix him.

    1
    Reply
    • Goku the Knowledgable One

      3 months ago

      agreed on this being a fit

      although I was always surprised by his good results.. never had great stuff

      Reply
  4. mlb fan

    3 months ago

    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.

    1
    Reply
    • This one belongs to the Reds

      3 months ago

      Wonder if the kid GM is still napping.

      Reply
    • acoss13

      3 months ago

      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.

      5
      Reply
    • Hammerin' Hank

      3 months ago

      He’s not cut out for starting either. He doesn’t miss enough bats.

      2
      Reply
      • mlb fan

        3 months ago

        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.

        2
        Reply
        • cpdpoet

          3 months ago

          Thank you. Phillie’s #5 slot is like 3-14….

          4
          Reply
        • jyosuckas

          3 months ago

          I saw enough of him as a Mets fan to know he stinks

          1
          Reply
        • Bart Harley Jarvis

          3 months ago

          Here’s hoping Christopher Sanchez can fill the bill for a portion of the 2023 season.

          1
          Reply
      • stymeedone

        3 months ago

        Are you saying he should close?

        Reply
      • BrianStrowman9

        3 months ago

        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.

        Reply
  5. ForDoingNothing

    3 months ago

    Still due about 5 million for rest of season.

    Reply
    • mlb fan

      3 months ago

      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.

      Reply
      • ForDoingNothing

        3 months ago

        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

        Reply
  6. kellin

    3 months ago

    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)

    1
    Reply
    • Fred Park

      3 months ago

      @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.

      Reply
  7. Fred Park

    3 months ago

    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.

    2
    Reply
    • Ham Fighter

      3 months ago

      Rays will pick him up and next year will be cy young

      3
      Reply
      • Bart Harley Jarvis

        3 months ago

        Or at worst, Sean Young.

        1
        Reply
        • phenomenalajs

          3 months ago

          He could be Anthony Young, but he’d have to stay on a roster long enough to get 28 straight losses.

          3
          Reply
        • phenomenalajs

          3 months ago

          I just looked him up. I didn’t realize he died 6 years ago today… RIP Anthony.

          3
          Reply
        • Rsox

          3 months ago

          Jordan Lyles was making a decent run at it til winning his last start

          1
          Reply
      • cardinalnationhouston

        3 months ago

        Cy Young? More like Neil Young. Flexed is NOT a good Pitcher.

        Reply
  8. dshires4

    3 months ago

    Massive missed opportunity not selling high on him over the offseason.

    2
    Reply
  9. Bart Harley Jarvis

    3 months ago

    Is his arm falling off? I’m just asking a question.

    Reply
    • Spaced-Cowboy

      3 months ago

      No, his sky is falling.

      2
      Reply
      • Bart Harley Jarvis

        3 months ago

        Fallin’ or flexen’?

        4
        Reply
  10. pharmorlover

    3 months ago

    Word on the street in Bridgeport is that he is about to sign a minor league deal with the Whitesoxs . Stay tuned

    1
    Reply
  11. myaccount2

    3 months ago

    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.

    Reply
    • Oscar Gamble

      3 months ago

      Why would he agree to that? He can decline assignment and still get paid his full salary.

      Reply
      • myaccount2

        3 months ago

        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.

        Reply
  12. hiflew

    3 months ago

    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.

    1
    Reply
    • Stevil

      3 months ago

      They won’t. If they–or any other team–were to claim him, they’d be responsible for the remainder of his 2023 salary.

      1
      Reply
      • BrianStrowman9

        3 months ago

        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.

        Reply
      • hiflew

        3 months ago

        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.

        Reply
        • Stevil

          3 months ago

          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.

          Reply
        • hiflew

          3 months ago

          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.

          Reply
  13. Poolhalljunkies

    3 months ago

    Red sox could def use him considering all thier current pitching injuries

    1
    Reply
  14. hoof hearted

    3 months ago

    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.

    Reply
  15. Rsox

    3 months ago

    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

    2
    Reply
  16. mrperkins

    3 months ago

    Cards trade DeJong and a little cash to even it out. M’s get serviceable infielder, Cards try to get some innings

    1
    Reply
  17. Cowtipper

    3 months ago

    Time for the Mets to get him back so he can redeem himself.

    Reply
  18. good vibes only

    3 months ago

    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.

    1
    Reply
  19. cdouglas24000

    3 months ago

    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

    Reply
  20. Stevil

    3 months ago

    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.

    1
    Reply
  21. Blue Baron

    3 months ago

    The clock struck midnight, and he turned back into the pumpkin he was in his Mets days. And boy, did he suck.

    1
    Reply
    • carlosl

      3 months ago

      The Mets gave him every chance to win a starter spot and he struggled big time.

      1
      Reply
  22. MortDingle

    3 months ago

    Hate to see him go on these terms, He provided a lot of great moments in Seattle.

    2
    Reply
  23. Troutahni

    3 months ago

    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.

    Reply
  24. lee cousins

    3 months ago

    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.

    Reply
  25. lee cousins

    3 months ago

    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.

    1
    Reply
  26. Kruk's Left Nut

    3 months ago

    Looks like his future might be as a long reliever/swing man. He might be able to provide value in a spot like that.

    Reply

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