The Mariners announced that they have claimed right-hander Domingo González off waivers from the Braves and assigned him to Triple-A Tacoma. Atlanta designated him for earlier this week when they claimed righty Connor Seabold. Seattle’s 40-man roster had a vacancy but is now full.
González, 25, has no major league experience yet. Originally an international signing of the Pirates, Atlanta nabbed him in the minor league phase of the 2022 Rule 5 draft. A couple of years later, after the 2024 campaign, Atlanta added him to their 40-man roster to prevent him from reaching minor league free agency.
He had done some starting while in the Pirates’ system but has been almost exclusively a reliever since joining the Braves. His only two starts since switching organizations were two-inning stints as an opener. Over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he logged 106 1/3 innings with a 3.55 earned run average. His 11.9% walk rate was a bit on the high side but he struck out 34.3% of opponents.
Given that performance, it’s understandable that Atlanta didn’t want him to get away and gave him a roster spot. But his results have backed up a bit this year. He has thrown 42 Triple-A innings with a 4.29 ERA, 21.4% strikeout rate and 11.5% walk rate. Those numbers seemingly prevented him from getting a big league call-up and also nudged him off the 40-man and onto the waiver wire.
For the Mariners, they had a free roster spot and have used it to scoop up González. Since he is in his first of three option years, the M’s could potentially be patient in trying to get him back on track. He has no major league service time yet, so he’ll be cheaply controllable for years to come if he can develop into a serviceable big league arm, though he’ll first have to show enough promise to hang onto a roster spot.
Photo courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images
Is he the replacement for Casey legumina?
I could see that happening before too long.
I wonder if Seattle will have him scrap the splitter and focus on his slider more.
Seems like Troy Taylor may be getting another shot soon
He has not been good in Tacoma.
I suspect that he gets DFAed when Santos comes off the 60 day IL, if Santos even returns at all.
They can still open a 40 man spot by moving Thornton to 60 day IL.
Robles will likely get that Thorton spot.
Robles is expected back after 1 September when rosters expand.
I don’t know when/if Santos is expected back, but they aren’t using Legumina right now.
We were taking about a 40 man roster spot.
I doubt Santos is coming back, the Mariners don’t even have him on their updates/injury list. They might have already made their minds up on his plans and their future.
Hence why I put that clause in “if Santos….”
Not sure if Santos would come up but I did see they put out an update on him the other day that he has been cleared for game action and could factor into bullpen in September
Chills
I don’t understand the Twins having Noah Davis and Erasmo Ramirez on their 40 and not putting a claim in for a guy like this. He has team control, is 25, could be a guy for their depleted bullpen.
Falvey knows he’s a lame duck GM and won’t even try at this point
could be a sneaky. good pickup for the Mariners, can’t believe he’s just in its first option yr
Interesting. If they can fix the BB problem, he might be something in 2026. But I don’t think Legumina is connected to this signing. Legumina should be DFA, but who replaces him? Taylor? Snider? It’s a little late to turn Emerson Hancock into a reliever (PTSD of moving Robbie Ray to the pen).
Meanwhile, on a completely different topic, could Lazaro Montes (who’s a below average defender in the OF) take the winter to learn how to be a decent 1B? He is 6’4″ after all and if they don’t sign Naylor, there’s nobody in the system who’s ready.