The Seattle Mariners have made a significant move to strengthen their bullpen by acquiring right-hander Mike Baumann and minor league catcher Michael Pérez from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for catcher Blake Hunt. This trade, finalized on Wednesday, aims to address the Mariners’ pressing need for bullpen depth.
Mike Baumann Joins Mariners’ Roster
Mike Baumann, a 28-year-old right-hander, brings with him a solid track record. This season, he posted a 1-0 record with a 3.44 ERA over 17 relief appearances for the Orioles, striking out 16 and walking nine in 18 1/3 innings. Baumann was recently designated for assignment when Baltimore activated right-hander Grayson Rodriguez from the 15-day injured list.
Seattle wasted no time in adding Baumann to their active roster ahead of Thursday’s series finale against the Yankees in New York. To accommodate Baumann, right-handed reliever Cody Bolton, who has a 4.41 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 15 games, was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
Baumann’s career with the Orioles spans four seasons, during which he accumulated a 13-5 record with a 4.45 ERA across four starts and 90 relief appearances. Notably, last season he achieved a 10-1 record with a 3.76 ERA in 60 relief appearances.
Addressing Bullpen Challenges
The Mariners have faced bullpen challenges due to injuries to key relievers. Matt Brash, who led MLB in appearances in 2023, is sidelined for the season following Tommy John surgery. Additionally, Gregory Santos, a significant offseason acquisition, is not expected to debut until July as he recovers from a right latissimus dorsi strain.
Despite these setbacks, Seattle’s bullpen has managed to pitch just 150 1/3 innings this season, the fewest in MLB, thanks to a starting rotation that ranks third in baseball with 290 innings. The team has increasingly relied on closer Andrés Muñoz, who has logged 21 1/3 innings over 20 appearances, including six outings exceeding one inning.
Michael Pérez and Blake Hunt
Michael Pérez, 31, has been performing at Triple-A Norfolk, hitting .221 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 21 games this year. His major league experience includes a .179 batting average with 15 homers and 61 RBIs over six seasons with Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, and the New York Mets.
Blake Hunt, 25, is a promising talent heading to the Orioles. This season, he has been hitting .293 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 23 games at Triple-A.
This trade represents a strategic move by the Mariners to fortify their bullpen and maintain their strong position in the AL West as they navigate through the season.
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