The Mariners announced Friday that they’ve released veteran right-hander Neftali Feliz. He’d been in camp as a non-roster invitee this spring but is once again a free agent. Seattle also optioned righty Will Klein to Triple-A Tacoma and reassigned non-roster players Samad Taylor and Nick Dunn to minor league camp.
Feliz, 37 in May, hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2021 and has just four MLB frames to his credit since the 2017 season. The 2010 American League Rookie of the Year has spent the past few years pitching in the Mexican League and in the Dominican Winter League. He embarked on a comeback bid with the Mariners and pitched four official innings during Cactus League play, yielding three runs on six hits and no walks with one strikeout.
During his three-year run in an extraordinarily hitter-friendly Mexican League, he’s pitched quite well. He’s pitched out of the bullpen for four different clubs and logged a 2.37 ERA with a 26.3% strikeout rate and 9.8% walk rate in 121 2/3 innings. He’s consistently pitched well with a pair of winter ball clubs as well.
At his peak, Feliz averaged better than 96 mph on his heater — he sat 92-94 mph with his four-seamer in his final Mariners outing this spring — and fanned more than 28% of his opponents on the strength of a hearty 14.1% swinging-strike rate. Injuries, most notably including Tommy John surgery and ulnar nerve palsy, slowed his career. He posted a dominant 2.53 ERA with 87 saves and 12 holds in 241 2/3 frames through his age-26 season but has managed only 151 big league innings with a 5.16 earned run average since.
Another club can now speculate on Feliz if his work in Mariners camp intrigued them, and it’s also feasible that he could return for a fourth year in Mexico, given the success he’s had there dating back to 2022.
Part of the return to Texas in the Mark Texiera trade to ATL
Yeah didn’t he throw a 100 miles per hour change-up back in the day?
Don’t need him, we have the best hitting team in baseball. Lol
Is Fujinami and his 9 ERA next ?
Pirates could probably use him as their closer
He didn’t walk anyone, just allowed to many hits
i was rooting for feliz, its neat to see guys try to make a comeback.
Time to retire, buddy. You had a good go of it.
His rookie year of 2009 doesn’t seem that long ago and yet his team included Eddie Guardado, Ivan Rodriguez, and Omar Vizquel.
Ivan Rodriguez caught Nolan Ryan, whose career started in 1966, and Neftali Feliz, who is (sort of) still active.
Nolan Ryan played with Ken Boyer who played with Stan Musial who played with Estel Crabtree who played with Dolf Luque who played with Jonny Evers who played with Paul Hines who played with Sy Studley who was born in 1841
Think Paul Hines moonlighted as the pyjama model for Smith Brothers cough drops. His put up your dukes fighting stance ensured that chivalry for a lady’s hand was not dead. His handlebar mustache and penchant for unicycles pioneered fashion in Brooklyn in the mid 2000s.
I haven’t heard that name in forever.
It feels like Feliz has been pitching since the 90s
Well I guess I’m not watching Mariners games this year.
The days of teams valuing veteran relievers for their experience and “know-how” are over—it’s all about raw stuff, spin rates, and velocity now.
Buh Bye!
He’s not going to be Mr. Happy when he hears this…
Top of the order pick-up for the Rockies, just waiting.
Savannah Bananas would benefit, also.