The Mariners announced that they have selected the contract of left-hander Jhonathan Díaz from Triple-A Tacoma, then optioned him to Tacoma. Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times relays on X that the lefty had an opt-out in his minor league deal, which is why he got added to the 40-man but not the active roster. They had an open 40-man spot and thus didn’t need to make a corresponding move.
Díaz, 27, signed a minor league deal with the M’s in January. He has since made nine appearances for Tacoma, eight starts, logging 51 innings with a 3.18 earned run average. He has struck out 26.2% of batters faced while giving out walks just 4.3% of the time. He has also kept 56.3% of balls in play on the ground. The fact that all that took place in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League makes it all the more impressive.
The lefty also has 35 1/3 innings of major league experience, which came with the Angels from 2021 to 2023. He had a 4.48 ERA in that time, though with his strikeout and walk rates matching at an unimpressive 14.4% level. He tossed 210 1/3 minor league innings over that same period of time with a 4.45 ERA, 24% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate.
The Mariners are clearly intrigued by the recent form Díaz has shown and didn’t want him to get away. He still has options and they had an open spot on the 40-man, they were able to simply add him there and keep him in Tacoma, preventing him from returning to the open market.
The M’s have a strong rotation right now composed of Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller. On optional assignment, they have Emerson Hancock and Levi Stoudt as depth options, with Díaz now joining them as guys who could be recalled for a spot start or as an injury replacement.
The good news is they didn’t make any moves to help the offense and provide some support to the best rotation in baseball.
Every year no matter who the Mariners put at 2nd base they aren’t able to put up even average career batting numbers! Polanco is just the latest in a long list! They have never been able to replace Cano’s production!
I finished your sentence for you ….”Or as an injury replacement”……or offered in a package together with other players in upcoming trade deadline deals.
It’s funny how basically all of their hitters bat under .250 and even more bat in the .100s
I’m tired of Julio and Cal sucking in key opportunities. I realize that JP suffered an injury but he has really fallen off from last year. I’m glad to see recent acquisitions like Rojas, Canzone and Raley continue to contribute and I hope Moore stays hot. Dipoto has done well with the limited budget he is forced to operate with.
Cal doesn’t suck in key opportunities, he has 4 game winners so far
Julio has forgotten how to get more than a single which is what I am scared about
You’re obviously not watching the Yankees series.
The Yankees series was only 4 games and we won 2. Your point being?
I’m glad to be wrong in the 8th
Really? JP has started slow every year and didn’t even play a month before the injury.. and Cal has been the definition of clutch. Garver and Polanco have been hot garbage but have had moments. And the teams in first place.
Yes, the team is in first place. Great job Jerry!
Saying that Cal sucks in key opportunities delegitamizes everything else you have to say…
The new batting order has a chance. .Wait…….. a minute we need to move Cal out of the four hole sure he was hitting fine not that long ago but do to the lack of offence Cal’s been trying hard to make up for it. Where he once was more discriminating he now swings at pitches out of the strike zone, hence the strikeouts I’m going to move France in his place there. France who as of lately has been hitting once again my second pick would be Raley who has a bigger bat. Move the rest down as you see fit.
Lee…cmon man. We don’t have that kind of hitter except for Julio who hasn’t exactly been killing it so far this season. The propaganda says Polonca should be that guy, but he really never has been. Outside of the starting rotation, D’Mo has the highest WAR on our team. I love D’Mo, but how is his WAR above everyone else.