The Mariners announced that right-hander Levi Stoudt has been claimed off waivers from the Reds. To create 40-man roster space, Seattle designated outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba for assignment.
The move is a bit of a homecoming for Stoudt, who returns to the organization that made him a third-round pick in the 2019 draft. Stoudt was one of the four prospects the Mariners dealt to the Reds at the 2022 trade deadline as part of the Luis Castillo blockbuster, and Stoudt’s time in Cincinnati saw the 26-year-old make his Major League debut. Appearing in four games last season, Stoudt posted a 9.58 ERA in his first 10 1/3 innings of big league work.
Despite the achievement of making it to the Show, 2023 was a difficult season overall for Stoudt, who had a 6.23 ERA in 82 1/3 innings with Triple-A Louisville. The righty was rocked for 20 homers over those 82 1/3 frames, and his 58 strikeouts only slightly exceeded his 50 walks. Stoudt has a decent fastball that averaged 94.4mph in his abbreviated MLB tenure but his strikeout rates have been decreasing over his three pro seasons while his control has always been somewhat inconsistent.
This was enough to make the Reds feel Stoudt was an expendable piece, as Cincinnati designated the righty earlier this week. A return to the Mariners might help Stoudt get on track, and the M’s will get a chance to more closely evaluate him during Spring Training. If Stoudt can stabilize his performance, he can act as a big league-ready depth arm to be called upon at Triple-A, should the Mariners be in need of a spot starter or long reliever to eat some innings.
Smith-Njigba’s time in Seattle might not last long, as the Mariners only claimed him off waivers from the Pirates 10 days ago. Like Stoudt, the 24-year-outfielder also has a pretty brief MLB resume, posting a .493 OPS over 44 plate appearances with Pittsburgh over the last two seasons. His numbers at the Triple-A level have been a lot more impressive, as Smith-Njigba has hit .273/.366/.439 in 686 PA with the Pirates’ top affiliate since the start of the 2021 campaign.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Smith-Njigba change teams again via waiver claim, if another club is intrigued by this Triple-A protection and the outfielder’s set of tools, even if Smith-Njigba has yet to really manifest his potential. Baseball America ranked him as the 28th-best prospect in the Mariners’ farm system, with concerns about a “lack of speed or defensive value,” but Smith-Njigba has power potential and an “above-average approach and a good balance of aggression and patience.”
I’m sure they have hope a return to their system will get him back on track.
Well, he has good genes.
Have Dad jokes will travel
You mean jeans..
When his (Denim Stoudt) ceiling is the 10th or 12th option for an emergency spot start behind Pitchers like E Hancock, A Voth, Trent Thornton and (if back to full health) Taylor Dollard there is really not much risk involved here. Plenty of CIN Reds fans on here trashed Stoudt then dismissed his chances in any Org. Tbf they were only reacting to what were abysmal innings pitched in his short MLB career.
This is no criticism of the CIN Pitching Dev Group, in fact I’m sure many Midwest fans could cite multiple examples of Reds Pitching success stories. The fact is this particular Mariners Pitching Dev Group started by Andy McKay has a stout track record at identifying pitchers (and their specific pitch shapes) and cultivating them into better versions of themselves. M’s fans can cite countless examples of direct quotes from Pitchers providing details of vast improvement while they were in this current M’s Pitching Group. Look at the conveyor belt of RPers who cost next to nothing, that made up their ML Bullpens over the last 4 seasons straight. The fecundity of success stories in and around the 40 man Rosters is definitely a major strength of this FO. Nevermind them having the best Ballpark in the Majors for Denim Stoudt to rediscover his confidence.
A no brainer move for an Org that has recently dealt away a plethora of Pitching Depth
Nice take ! I liked stoudts ability coming into reds organization. He had potential spot start capability that the reds could have surely used last season ! They couldn’t do anything with him and that’s par for the course when it comes to reds developing pitching. The guys that are good enough to rise to the top do in reds organization and the rest go on to having decent careers once they leave reds organization.
One thing that I’ve never liked about the reds organizational operations is how they always lean toward in house options to fill coaching staffs. The problem with in house options in a loosing organization is that the in-house option has a loosing track record. And imo of red’s development over the past decade plus of following their system is that their player development is below average and pitching is worse than hitting.
Stoudt had spot start opportunities and got lit up like a Cuban cigar every time.
As far as the rest, how quickly they forget.
Folks fell all over themselves to get Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle. I include Gray because he was basically down and out after his Yankee experience and they got him back on track.
The previous bunch that included Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Bronson Arroyo, Aroldis Chapman was pretty popular as well.
The Reds organizational problem is supplementing that homegrown talent, which they have had a problem doing, especially in recent years since they broke up their last solid squad.
Very few organizations develop pitching consistently well over a long period of time, in all honesty.
A lot of that was the bryon price era. He was good at getting the most out of major league pitchers which is a little different than developing guys.
Robert Stevenson, the Cuban that came in with that initial class, Cody Reed, greene and lodolo are behind schedule. Brandon Williamson had more promise coming over.
Other guys came on the scene strong like Abbott and ashcraft and Diaz.
Reds are much better at identifying talent than developing it. And they seem to be getting better at both. verdict is out for sure. If they pull it all together this year with this home grown talent – stock will be way up !
You never know how a young man deals with the challenge of being told they are no longer wanted by the Org that drafted them. No-one likes being traded, unless of course there’s an Elephant on your Uniform!
“My Mariners” sent two other SP’s to Ohio. How are Brandon Williamson and Phillips developing? They had better “pedigrees” than Stoudt. I saw both had settled down nicely after a wee bit of a bumpy start to their ML Careers. Have they developed a new pitch to have equal sucess to both LH and RH batters this offseason?
Williamson had a good rookie season after a down initial year in the organization. Reds have 8 starters but he should earn the 5th spot based on his last years performance
Phillips could pass up the other 7 starters as top arm on the staff if he can take a step forward with his control this season. His K ratio is elite
I have said I think Phillips will eventually be the best of the bunch. Just this old bird dog’s eye test. He already knows how to pitch for such a young guy. Williamson made great strides last year and I hope he progresses just as much this year.
Phillips is still just 22 or 23, right? Its been a while since I’ve watched him but the last start I saw I remember thinking – its amazing that he gets that much torque, force and velocity out of his 6’2” frame.
If only my Mariners could develop Hitters like they do Pitching! ….I think I counted a total of 10-11 SP’s (including SEA’s 4 SP’s) in Rotations across MLB that were drafted and developed by this Dipoto Regime!!
Sorry to be that guy, but it’s spelled “losing” unless you meant “not tightening”
A younger Blake Snell
Get a good whiplash doctor.
Or a Ballpark that has cold damp thick marine air for much of the first 60 or so games. Have you ever noticed why many ML power hitters hit fewer HRs and more fly balls on the warning track in Seattle in April!? Those Spring nights at T-Mobile are very kind to Stoudt Pitchers
Welcome back Levi.
nice story if they can reclaim some piece of the luis castillo trade, and they probably will considering the work they did with him early in his career
I guess the smith-njigba Seattle dynamic is ruined
Maybe – maybe not.
He may not be claimed off waivers this time.
With a name like that? It’s full of intrigue.
Hopefully Marte can be the player as projected because this trade is already falling apart.
I wouldn’t say that at all. Marte looked good in 2023. He’s projected to be one of the top contenders for NL Rookie of the Year. Then Edwin Arroyo is still a good prospect who’s still Top 100 depending on who you ask (also only 20 years old).
Exactly. The Mariners could easily regret letting him go. He projects to be a major leaguer at 22, thats a great sign for his future. Fangraphs has him spitting distance to league average at that age indicates a solid regular if not potential star at some point. I cant speak for the Mariners and I’m sure they love having Castillo but have to imagine they’d want Marte over him at this point due to just that. Guys like Levi Stoudt are included to sweeten the pot. A lottery ticket that usually doesn’t work out. He may still havw something left but I dont think Cincinnati even expected much, they just wanted a look and see at a young arm who had and still has some potential to be ok. That trade was more about getting Marte for the Reds than anything.
Reds got an absolute haul for Castillo. Arroyo is my favorite player in reds farm. His ceiling is elite defensive ss that hits for power and maintains a respectable average. What else could you ever ask in for a secondary piece ?
Something better than we got…..
Yeah, getting something back that finished 5th in Cy Young voting last year was horrible
I’m a Reds fan…. one of the players from the trade is a bust already.
So you expect 4/4 prospects to be hits??
Marte is already looking like a solid player potential star. Arroyo is performing very well at 10 yrs old. And Phillips made huge strides last year. This take is incredibly pessimistic and knee jerk
Stoudt and (Andrew Moore) were never meant to be the focus of that trade. The projections for both of those players were nowhere near as optimistic as those of Marte and Arroyo’s. Marte has a ceiling of being an All-Star! For 1.5 yrs of Castillo!!!
Stoudt and Moore will be in the Dunne category complete trash.
Tiger- if the Reds didn’t trade Castillo, its easy to picture him giving CIN 1.5 yrs of solid Front End SP production. Somewhere near 6-7 bWAR for the 60g in 2022 and 2023 combined.
Its already looking like Noelvi Marte ALONE (over 6 seasons) is going to smash the 6-7 bWAR projected value from Luis Castillo’s remaining 1 year and 2 mo’s in CIN. Marte is just as good as De La Cruz and McLain imo. Different players but same All-Star caliber value
Think about this- Noelvi played in 35 games last yr – he had a 120 OPS+ and gave you 0.8 bWAR in nearly a month’s worth of games after making his debut. When you consider 4 bWAR value is All Star level production – Noelvi Marte alone will likely double or triple Castillo’s total value over 1.5yrs of his contract. 6 yrs of Marte!? The Reds absolutely smashed that trade despite Levi Stoudt’s troubles.
Exactly Whiffa! For 9 months of La Piedra
Trade falling apart? Correct me if I’m wrong but CIN traded 1.5 yrs of Castillo yes? Noelvi Marte is a Stud that will be in your lineup for 5 more yrs. If Arroyo doesnt crack your INF you can trade him for Pitching. He was highly regarded in the M’s system. The trade was always about those 2 INFs and if Arroyo pans out you’ll have him for 6 yrs!!!!
If that doesn’t do it for you just think about the 6 seasons of B Williamson and C Phillips you got for an OF who is now on a Minor Lg Contract with WAS. Or the salary relief from Geno Suarez…..you’ll be OK haha
Zero career all stars from either player will equal a complete bust of a trade. You trade an all star you better get something close to it back and yes I wanted all 4 players to be good when giving up a perennial all star.
Just take the L
Despite the headline, these are hardly moves of biblical proportions.
Saw this coming from a mile away. The M’s pitching factory will get him back on track.
A couple of times in the past it’s been pure alchemy, myaccount2, – you know, where wizards take lead and turn it into gold.
I think that’s exactly how it’s been with a few names the past 4-5 years.
If Smith-Njigba clears waivers, he could go to the Tacoma Rainiers and still be near his brother.
I like C.S.N stat resume: little power, nice BB/k rate, can steal afew bases. Stount-to many HR and BB.
Called this one! Great to have him back in the fold, hopefully he can pick up where he left off when he was in the organization earlier.
Preller needs to pick up Smith-Njibga NOW.
Welcome home Levi
I don’t know much of either players though it’ seems apparent that both players have something to prove. Not hardly the M’s want to take on a developing player other than a pitcher, leastwise not when a pitcher at this time has more upside for a team on a winning drive. The M’s might also consider a multi-dimensional player the kind they covet, this Smith-Njigba has this promise see if he can clears waivers.
Booooooooo
Cincinnati plays in a shoebox. Bad for pitchers, good for hitters.
Seattle plays in the Grand Canyon. Bad for hitters, good for pitchers.
Always overlooked in Cincy pitching transactions; you’re either a DJ disciple or you’re soon gone. Johnson has unique (aka sometimes bizarre) philosophies and training methods. There have been upwards of a dozen pitchers jettisoned or that chose to leave (Iglesias, DeSclafani, Gausman, et al.
I’ve never seen any reports indicating these players chose to leave because of a difference in philosophy with DJ. They all left for money the reds weren’t going to pay
At the time of the trade for Luis Castillo(2022 trade deadline) Stoudt was the M’s #7-prospect! 2nd best of the 4 Top-20 prospects sent over to Cinncy(N.Marte-#2, E.Arroyo-#9, C.Phillips-#15) That’s a pretty far fall in a season and a half and well worth the flier the M’s are taking on a guy they’ve spent time already developing! He had scouting grades(in 2022) of Fastball-60, Changeup-60, Slider-55, Curveball-50, Control-45! GO M’s!!!
Idk what source had Stoudt higher than Arroyo at that time. Arroyo was on various top 100 lists at the time. Stoudt was not.
MLB.com Top 30 Prospect Rankings Seattle Mariners 2022 season!