Mariners Sign Todd Coffey to Minor-League Deal

Todd Coffey, formerly of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is now a Seattle Mariner. Or, at the very least, a part of the M’s Minor League system.

Via Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune:

Coffey did not pitch in 2013 while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. Prior to injuring his throwing arm, he was a serviceable middle reliever in the Bigs.

From 2009-2012, he sported a 3.76 ERA in 225 innings of work.

Pending a physical on Thursday, Coffey will join the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, in hopes of pitching his way onto the Major League roster.

At 33, though, it will be an uphill climb.

It had been confirmed before Heath Bell‘s deal with the Baltimore Orioles that the M’s were interested in his services. Why? Because you can never have too much pitching.

The Mariners bullpen has gone from stellar to shaky night-to-night, and having a veteran reliever can go a long way to stabilizing the bullpen– which is inherently inconsistent in baseball.

Whether or not Coffey makes it up to Seattle this season, he provides minor league depth in case of injuries or slumps. And with Stephen Pryor down in Tacoma raring to get back to the Bigs, it only makes sense to continue bolstering the ‘Pen if the Mariners really want to make a run at any sort of postseason berth.

Do you think Todd Coffey is a good signing? Or a waste of money on a minor league roster spot? The bigger question still looms, though: will the Mariners go after a professional right-handed batter in the coming months?