Wade LeBlanc, Mariners Decide to Commit to One Another

The Seattle Mariners are in for a busy month. Yesterday they added 9 international free agents. Today, they committed to a 33-year-old journeyman left-handed pitcher.
Wade LeBlanc is going to be a Seattle Mariners pitcher for a while. The team announced today that they have signed Wade LeBlanc to an extension. The deal guarantees his salary for 2018 and gives him $2.75 million for the 2019 season.
The team is heavily team friendly, with some nice incentives for LeBlanc.He can earn as much as $4.75 million with innings pitched incentives. The rest of deal includes 3 club options. The details of the options are still being reported. Jerry Crasnick is reporting the 3 team options can max out at $32 million with performance bonuses.
LeBlanc has been incredibly important to the Mariners surprising 2018 season. He has posted a sterling 3.38 ERA in 72 innings. His 1.21 WHIP and 3.83 FIP are both solid numbers for a number 4 starter, as is his 7.0 K/9.
LeBlanc has been DFA’d 7 times in his career but has always had a fan in Jerry Dipoto. Dipoto has acquired LeBlanc 3 times in as a GM, signing him twice and trading for him once.
The soft-tossing lefty has drawn comparisons to long-time fan favorite Jamie Moyer. The Mariners are committing to LeBlanc, granted in a very team friendly way, so perhaps they believe the same.
However, the deal will not prevent the Mariners from adding pitching at the trade deadline. Seattle still has a need for quality pitching as they continue to chase the Astros in the AL West, as well as beating back the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Angels for the 2nd Wild Card position.
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The lefty will not have to wait long to celebrate his extension. He takes the ball against the Angels in the opening game of a 3 game series against the Los Angeles Angels tonight.