Seattle Mariners History: A Look at the Relievers of 1993-2011

Today we look at the relievers who helped the Mariners be among the best in baseball and they finally made the playoffs in 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2001.

The first member of this group was Norm Charlton, aka “The Sheriff”. He arrived in Seattle in 1993 when the Mariners acquired him from the Cincinnati Red. Lou Piniella knew “the sheriff” when they were both in Cincinnati. Carlton was part of the Reds bullpen known as the “nasty boys” with Randy Myers and Rob Dibble.

He became the Mariners closer in 1993. He missed 1994 because of an elbow injury. He started 1995 with the Phillies but didn’t do well so they released him than he signed again with the Mariners on July 14, 1995, becoming a key member of the team’s first playoff run. His tour duty of the Mariners lasted thru 1997.

After a few stops, he returned to Seattle for the 2001 season. So in all Carlton was with the Mariners five years. He appeared in 246 games with 67 saves.

Jeff Nelson, one of the best setup men in baseball, had three stints with the Mariners. He started his career in 1992. He was with the Mariners through 1995 he was traded to the New York Yankees with Tino Martinez. His second stint with the Mariners was from 2001 through 2003 and again, finally, in 2005. In eight seasons he pitched in 432 games with an ERA of 3.26.

Bobby Ayala came to the Seattle in the trade that brought catcher Dan Wilson as well. Ayala was with the team for five years. His first two years, 1994 and 95, he was the closer. His best year was 1994 when he had a record of 4-3 and an ERA of 2.86 and 18 saves. His last year, 1998, he had a record of 1-10 with an ERA of 7.29. He had a lot of blown saves that year. Fans were not happy. There was a funny thought that Lou Piniella kept running him out because he was his son in law. Not true by the way.

On July 31, 1997, the Mariners acquired pitchers Mike Timlin and Paul Splojaric from the Toronto Blue Jays for the former first-round pick and quick fan favorite of the Jose Cruz Jr. That same day the Mariners acquired Heathcliff Slocumb from the Boston Red Sox for catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Derek Lowe.

Both had good careers after the trade to Boston. Timlin and Slocumb both spent time as Mariner closer and were gone after the 1998 season. The Mariners and GM Woody Woodward were looking for experienced relievers because they were in first place in 1997 ending with a record of 90-72.

Other closers the Mariners had were Jose Mesa who closed in 1999. Kazuhiro Sasaki who came out of Japan and was Rookie of the Year in 2000, He was selected to two all-star teams for Seattle from 2000 through 2003 before returning home to Japan. He saved 129 games for Seattle.

Eddie Guardado aka Everday Eddie, served as closer from 2004-2006, racking up 59 saves with an ERA of 3.25.

J.J. Putz, who made Seattle home from 2003-2008(closer 2006 through 2008) had 101saves with an ERA of 3.07, and David Aardsma in 2009 and 10 had 69 saves in 126 games with an ERA of 2.90.

Other relievers the Mariners had were Jose Paniagua 1998 thru 2001. He pitched in 206 games with a record of 15-14 and ERA of 3.77. Left-handed specialist Arthur Rhodes 2000 thru 2003, and again in 2008. He appeared in 312 with an ERA of 3.05.

Shigetoshi Hasegawa threw in 230 games, an ERA of 3.46 2002 thru 2005; others were Julio Mateo 2002 thru 2007, Rafael Soriano 2002 – 2006, Ron Villone  2004-05, Matt Thornton 2004-05 George Sherrill 2004-07, Sean Green 2006-2008, Brandon Morrow 2007-2009 and Mark Lowe 2006-10, 15.

These were guys did well along with having some down years for the Mariners too. We will always remember Norm Charlton, Jeff Nelson, Bobby Ayala (for his blown saves), Kazuhiro Sasaki, and Arthur Rhodes.

Next time, we wrap up our “Mariners History Series” by putting a bow on the team’s bullpens of the last 10 years. Be sure to be on the lookout for those!