Catcher Brian O’Keefe is heading to MLB Spring Training with the Mariners, the team announced Friday. O’Keefe joined the organization on a minor league pact that same day, per his MLB.com transaction tracker.
The agreement is a homecoming of sorts for O’Keefe. The veteran catcher made his MLB debut with Seattle back in 2022. He appeared in 10 games with the Mariners from 2022 to 2023. O’Keefe went to Spring Training with the Twins the following year, but was cut in March. He landed in Kansas City as a minor league free agent. He launched 18 home runs with a 130 wRC+ in 72 games with Omaha in 2024. The strong performance earned O’Keefe a Spring Training invitation with the Royals, but he ended up back with the Storm Chasers. He hit .158 in 43 games with the team this past year and was released in June.
St. Louis took O’Keefe in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. He was a well-above league-average hitter in the Cardinals system, but never made it beyond Double-A. O’Keefe ended up in Seattle’s organization in December 2019. A Curt Casali trip to the paternity list led to O’Keefe’s first callup. He spent a bit more time with the big-league club following a Tom Murphy injury.
Seattle has a rock-solid option in Cal Raleigh handling most of the reps behind the plate, though the club’s depth options have shifted this offseason. The Mariners dealt Harry Ford to the Nationals in a trade that netted reliever Jose A. Ferrer. A reunion with free agent Mitch Garver was mentioned in December, but nothing came of it. Seattle instead signed Andrew Knizner, traded for Jhonny Pereda, and handed Spring Training invitations to former big leaguers O’Keefe and Jakson Reetz.
Photo courtesy of Erik Williams, Imagn Images
That’s a lot of catchers for the M’s.
That’s a lot of minor league catchers for the M’s. But it’s good to have a whole bunch of catchers for February – pitchers and catchers will be reporting in just few days. The pitchers have to pitch to someone, after all.
That’s a lot of pitchers for the Mariners.
The yearly offseason “Pile Of Arms.”
Another St. Joe’s Hawk with a Seattle MLB connection, with Jamie Moyer being the other, obviously more prominent Mariner.
Ok. San Fran signed Aurrez and would seem to be out on and have have moved on from B. Donovan. Get it done now M’s we need him or someone else. Need one more difference making bat.
You would think that’s the next move, and maybe it is, but something in my gut tells me that this front office is going to go with the kids (Williamson/Young, with Emerson a possibility as well) until August 3, the trade deadline. I think that’s a mistake, but it’s getting a bit late here.
Infielders: Naylor, Young, Williamson, Crawford, Rivas, Emerson
Catchers: Raleigh, Knizner
Outfielders: Arozarena, Rodriguez, Robles, Raley, Refsnyder.
Maybe it’s Bliss or Mastrobuoni instead of Emerson at the start of the season. But that’s 13, and you’re right, we’re missing a bat.
You’re missing Canzone. They sure could use a move of Robles or Raley as part of a trade for an infielder.
MLMustang – I didn’t forget him – I just think he’s going to be traded for prospects or just start the season in Tacoma (he still has options left). I don’t see him making this club (even as a part-time DH) over Robles or Raley unless one of them is hurt during spring training. Five outfielders is plenty.
Canzone had a very nice season in 2025. Even did better vs LHP than some of their right handed batters.
Canzone is a candidate for a breakout season and should DH vs all right-handers.
Agree with ya, I would move Raley/Robles before Canzone, though he is not good defensively, you have addressed that stating they should use him as their DH against Right handers. (=
Infielders: Naylor, Young, Crawford, Rivas, Emerson
Catchers: Raleigh, Knizner
Outfielders: Arozarena, Rodriguez, Robles, Raley, Refsnyder., Canzone.
As of this moment, I think Canzone does make the team and the 4-headed platoon filling RF/DH.. IIf firing on all-cylinders, the mess will at least provide some nice pinch hitting options.
If I had to guess, Williamson and Bliss both start the year in Tacoma, learning positional flexibility and, in Williamson’s case, working on the power stroke.
Raleigh is bound to DH twice a week. Refsnyder will DH against lefties. There just aren’t enough at bats for an outfielder who’s below average defensively and has a three-month record of any success at the plate. I’m not picking on him, because I feel the same way about Robles, but at least he’s a plus defender.
Appreciate your thoughts Zippy, If the Mariners were to trade for B. Donovan and the cost is 1-2 minor leaguers who then does not make the team form your list? Donovan would have to replace one. Emerson? See what kind of spring Williamson/Young have?
If it were me, and thankfully for everyone it’s not, I’d keep Emerson down in Tacoma to play every day. He’s only 20.
Red Sox and M’s must have a side bet for tier 9 catchers signed.
The Mariners are making like Carnegie Steel circa 1900, cornering the market on back up catchers.
Prediction: Brian O’Keefe will be a coach in the M’s system by next February. Probably sooner.
O’Keefe was a very popular brew in Canada back in the day
MARINERS! SIGN ANDUJAR NOW!
The Mariners talk about adding another bat in the lineup, wonder if they have given Montes some consideration. I for one would like to see him given an invite to spring training. Let’s have a look at him.
Happy Groundhog Day, Everyone.