The Mariners announced that they have designated right-hander Casey Lawrence for assignment. Fellow righty Jesse Hahn has been selected to the roster in a corresponding move. Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reported the moves prior to the official announcement.
MLBTR readers should not be surprised to see Lawrence bumped off the roster again. The Mariners selected his contract yesterday, the fourth time this year they have done so. In each instance, Lawrence pitched in a game or two before being designated for assignment. The first two resulted in him clearing waivers, electing free agency and re-signing with the M’s on a new minor league deal. The third time they put him on waivers, the Blue Jays claimed him. That club also used him once before putting giving him the DFA treatment. That led Lawrence back to the Mariners on yet another minor league deal.
Yesterday, Lawrence served as the bulk pitcher in a bullpen game, which was necessary due to rotation injuries. The M’s have had George Kirby and Logan Gilbert on the injured list for a while and Bryce Miller recently joined them. That leaves them with a four-man rotation core of Luis Castillo, Bryan Woo, Logan Evans and Emerson Hancock.
Yesterday, Casey Legumina officially started the game but went just one inning as an opener. Lawrence then came in and tossed five innings, allowing one earned run. That was enough for a tough-luck loss as the M’s fell to the White Sox 1-0.
Based on the circumstances, it always seemed likely that Lawrence would be bumped off the roster yet again and that has indeed come to pass. Per Condotta, Kirby will be reinstated from the IL to start tomorrow’s game, bringing the M’s back to a five-man rotation.
Lawrence will be placed on waivers again in the coming days. Based on recent history, it’s fair to assume that he will clear and then return to the M’s on another minor league deal. Though it’s also possible that some club in need of a fresh arm puts in a claim, as the Jays did a few weeks back. After yesterday’s outing, Lawrence now has a 4.08 earned run average in 17 2/3 innings on the year. He has a career ERA of 6.42 in 141 2/3 innings spread over five seasons.
Hahn, 35, gets a roster spot for now. In a similar situation to Lawrence, he had his contract selected earlier this year but made just two appearances before being designated for assignment. He logged four scoreless innings in those appearances before getting the DFA treatment. He cleared waivers, elected free agency and re-signed with the M’s on another minor league deal. Shortly after re-signing, he landed on the minor league injured list but he has evidently returned to health. He’s made four scoreless Triple-A appearances in the past two weeks.
The M’s will need to open an active roster spot for Kirby’s activation tomorrow. Perhaps Hahn is slated for a short stay but they could also opt to send down Troy Taylor, who has options and is struggling, with a 12.15 ERA so far.
Hahn has a 4.17 career ERA in 315 1/3 big league innings but this is his first season with major league work since 2021. A shoulder injury cost him the 2022 and 2023 seasons and then he was stuck in the minors last year. As mentioned, he’s been putting up zeroes so far in 2025 but in a small sample.
Photo courtesy of Steven Bisig, Imagn Images
Seattle needs to stop jerking this guy around
“Jerking this guy around”…Mrs. Lawrence, I assure you we at the Mariners have the highest regard for your son as a person.
Baseball can be cruel at times and I assure you, this is being done to benefit the team and is certainly not personal or any slight upon you son. Have a great day ma’am.
There have been plenty of indications that the Mariners have communicated their strategy to him and he’s been on board with it. Considering his career is winding down and he could be out of the league at any point, he’s likely relishing every day on the MLB roster, bringing in $4k per day. I’d rather get jerked around and make $4k a day than be out of the league.
Plus, Lawrence gets paid the major league salary for the three business day period when he gets placed back on waivers after making a major league appearance or two. Lawrence will earn more $ this year in his current role than doing just about anything else, and he’s still getting to play at age 37.
That’s a silly comment. The mariners never once forced his name onto any of the minor league deals. There’s clearly an arrangement here between player and team.
Casey Lawrence has chosen the Mariners repeatedly so the right-hander must like the situation in Seattle.
His whole family lives in the area. I’ve seen him at a grocery store in Tacoma where I live.
Casey is currently living his dream, I don’t think he’s at all unhappy.
It’s the only way to stay gainfully employed in this economy
I’m gonna guess, he will be back…
First, I’m guessing that means Kirby is back. Second, the Lawrence family lives in the PNW, so unless he’s claimed, I’m guessing that he’d be happy to go back to Tacoma. Third, Lawrence seems like a stand-up guy.
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Do they keep his locker room stuff in a closet while he is gone?
If only he could play first base too, The M’s could use some better production there.
@xcfan Why isn’t Locklear in the majors yet? Don’t understand the fascination with Solano this late in the season. They’ve got plenty of utility guys to cover all those positions, so the fact he can potentially play 2-3 positions is moot. 1B is a black hole, despite the occasional home run from Rowdy.
I understand why but still feels wrong…
The problem isn’t that they are jerking Lawrence around—he clearly understands what is happening here. The problem is that mlb keeps roster sizes low—lower than teams would like—as a way of reducing talent cost, but then engages in this sort of collusion to get around the same roster restrictions that mlb has demanded! So the talent management side is working around the roster restrictions that the business side has demanded. MLB could, if it wanted, expand rosters to 27 or 30 or 50, but it does not because this would increase expenses. Instead they prefer collusion with willing partners to get the same value for a lower price; what choice does Lawrence have, after all? MLB has already limited his chances by demanding roster size limits.
It’s not as one-sided as you make it seem. Players also don’t want bigger roster sizes because who is going to pay utility players millions when teams can stock the bench will league min. players. That will have a cascading effect on depressing salaries across the board.
Well heck! I’m available!!! I’ve been working on a knuckleball. It won’t be hard to catch, as it only occasionally moves. If I get down in the count, my 65 mph heat should work. If nothing else, after hitting against me, it should set up the next guy with the 100 mph heat. I’m known for putting teams in a slump. Pitched BP for my Padres, and they haven’t scored since.
65 mph heat is pretty good. It beats my 35 mph “gas.”
Rowdy is playing a decent 1B. Has had some timely HRs
Another day, another Casey Lawrence article. One thing Dipoto and Atkins provides us at least, is guaranteed Casey Lawrence news.
Welcome back Mr.Hahn.
It’s war if another team claims Lawrence!