Report: Mariners Continue to Add, Sign RHP Erik Goeddel

The Mariners have spent the last 24 hours adding depth to the “Last Names That Start With G” category as well as the organization’s pitching staff. As SoDo Mojo contributor Ty Gonzalez wrote about earlier today, Jerry Dipoto pulled the trigger last night on a trade with the Kansas City Royals that brought over RHP Ashton Goudeau.

Today, the Mariners have signed RHP Erik Goeddel to a minor league deal after he was officially released by the Texas Rangers earlier this morning.

The business side of baseball can be finicky at times. Imagine waking up in Surprise, Arizona, heading to the Texas Rangers spring training facility,as has been the routine over the past month. Upon your arrival, you’re brought into the skipper’s office and handed your pink slip. You collect your belongings, say your goodbyes to teammates. You get on the phone with your agent as you head back to the hotel. An hour or so later your phone rings and your agent tells you to get back in the car and head 20 minutes up the road to Peoria where you’ll be signing a contract with your new team, the Seattle Mariners. Spring training can be quite a circus at times.

In Goeddel the Mariners are getting a right-handed reliever who has gotten quite a bit of Major League experience playing for the New York Mets over the last four seasons.

 Career Numbers: 110 G, 104.2 IP, 3.96 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 1.204 WHIP, 109 K, 42 BB

Over his career, he’s had success. Last year in New York, Goeddel continued to show he has the ability to miss a bat (33K in 29 IP, good enough for a 10.24 K/9).

He also struggled at times with command (3.41 BB/9). His arsenal includes a fastball that sits around 93 mph with an above average splitter and occasional curve. In short, this is a solid depth piece who would be serviceable if the big club ever needed to call on an arm waiting on the farm.

As we come down the back stretch of spring training it’s no surprise Dipoto is looking to add depth to the pitching staff. Last season the Mariners went through 40 pitchers alone. So here in Seattle there is a lot of truth to the saying “you can never have enough pitching.”

On paper, this is a nice move by the M’s GM. Considering it’s a minor league deal and the Mariners are able to stash Goeddel’s major league ready arm in Tacoma without impacting the 40-man roster this could be an impressive addition.

Next: Los Angeles Angels Preview

I have been critical of Dipoto all offseason, waiting for him to pull the trigger on moves that will help the club win in 2018. Even though that hasn’t happened yet – with just 37 players on the 40-man roster today a tiny part of me is still holding out hope – I must admit small moves like this one here remind me that Jerry does actually know what he is doing.