Seattle Mariners Sign Ruben Alaniz to MLB Deal

We finally have real Mariners news… kind of. In a minor move, Seattle signed free agent pitcher Ruben Alaniz to a Major League Deal. What does it mean for Seattle?

Probably nothing. The Mariners have plenty of room on their 40 man roster. Even with the signing of Alaniz, the Mariners 40 man still only has 33 spots filled. So signing a career minor leaguer to a Major League deal like Alaniz, and Dylan Moore who you can learn about by clicking here, aren’t really that big of a deal.

The players are signed for the minimum and can easily be waived, DFA’d, or optioned without any major concern to payroll or the roster in general. But what is it about Ruben Alaniz that makes the Mariners so intrigued?

After spending time with the Astros and Tigers organization’s, Alaniz found his way into the Tampa Bay Rays organization. 2018 saw the 27-year-old pitch across 4 levels, though he spent most of his time in AA Mongomery and AAA Durham.

In his 42.2 innings pitched in 2018, Alaniz posted a 3.38 ERA, with 53 strikeouts and just 16 walks. A starter earlier in his career, the Texas native has fully converted to the bullpen and may have to stuff to stick on a big league roster. His fastball can hit 98 mph and has a history of producing a high volume of ground balls.

His 2.44 FIP in AAA for the Rays, along with his velocity and ability to induce weak contact make him an intriguing option for the Mariners going forward. While Alaniz is not a lock to even make it to spring training, he is nonetheless an interesting option to watch going forward.

While these types of moves may not excite us (ourselves included) they are the type of moves that can pay dividends down the line as either quality organization depth, or perhaps even more. Lottery ticket moves are necessary for teams like the Mariners and don’t be surprised if you see more of these moves going forward.