How Former 2018 Mariners Doing This Year

We want to update you on how the Mariners players who played last year and no longer on the team are doing on their new ball clubs.

We begin with former Mariners closer Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano who are with the New York Mets. Going into Wednesday, May 8 game the New York Mets are 16-19 in the National League West four games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.

Edwin Diaz is not as dominating as he was last year for the Mariners, however, has gotten off to a good start. He has pitched in 16 games for the Mets with 9 saves. He has a record of 0-2 with an ERA of 2.45. Both losses happened in games when there was a tie. He still seems to struggle in those circumstances.

An interesting thing happened after those losses he had an interpreter during his press conferences. I can only think because he is in New York. I don’t recall at all him using one as a member of the Seattle Mariners.

Looking at the ratio of 9 saves in 16 games if we look at it over the season Diaz will end up with 44 saves compared to 57 last year for the Mariners.

Robinson Cano got off to a poor start at the plate for the New York Mets where he lingered around .200 for a while, however, in his last 15 games, he is hitting .333. We look closer though in his last seven games he is hitting .231.

This most likely because of an injury to his left hand on April 28. He didn’t miss much action an MRI found no break to the hand. He has only three home runs and driven in eleven runs on the season not a good sign for the Mets with Cano batting in the third spot in the order. On May 7th he had four hits in a Mets victory over the San Diego Padres 7-6. His batting average now is at .262. The Mets are hoping the hot weather will heat up Cano’s bat as well.

Now to the National League East Division leader the Philadelphia Phillies who acquired shortstop Jean Segura from the Mariners along with right-handed reliever Juan Nicasio and lefty reliever James Pazos.

We will start off with Pazos first because he is no longer a member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He started the season in triple-A for the Phillies then the Colorado Rockies acquired him on April 26 after being designated for assignment to make room on the Phillies 40-man roster.

The Rockies sent Pazos to their triple-A affiliate. In 11 games so far on the season, he has a terrible 9.82 ERA. His biggest trouble he has walked ten batters along with allowing 22 hits while striking out 7. Not a good sign for Pazos future.

The main man in the trade Jean Segura is hitting .320 in 26 games as he spent ten days on the injured list with a hamstring strain. He was reactivated on April 27. He is batting second in the Phillies order.

Juan Nicasio who had a bad season last year for the Mariners before being injured and spending the second half of the season on the injured list is having an OK season for the Phillies. He has pitched in 12 games going 17 innings with an ERA of 4.15. He had one outing that elevated his ERA where he gave up four runs in three innings on April 13 against the Miami Marlins.

Milwaukee 4th outfielder Ben Gamel was acquired for left fielder Domingo Santana is batting .298 with one home run and eight RBI’s. Though his average is good the Mariners have made best of this trade. With the starting outfield of Ryan Braun, Lorenzo Cain, and Christian Yelich is hard to crack the Brewers lineup. With no designated hitter Gamel is primarily used as a pinch hitter with an occasional start.

New York Yankee left-hander James Paxton who was expected to pitch against the Mariners on May 8, the anniversary of his no-hitter last year against the Toronto Blue Jays missed the series against the Mariners because he went on the injured list for a sore left knee.

Before going on the injured list Paxton started seven games with a record of 3-2 and an ERA of 3.11. He has 13 walks and 52 strikeouts in 37 ⅔ innings. The Yankees are hoping Paxton can get back to health to be part of the rotation as they try to make the playoffs.

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Tampa Bay catcher Mike Zunino who the Mariners gave up because he had trouble batting over .200. The problem was not his defense. The Mariners acquired centerfielder Mallex Smith for Zunino and outfielder Guillermo Heredia.

Zunino got off to a terrible start at the plate. On April 10 he was only hitting .088 without a home run and 2 RBI’s. He has hit better since then with his batting average rising to .220 but has only 3 home runs and 17 RBI’s.

The Tampa Bay Rays currently at the top of the American League East with a record of 23-13, two games ahead of the New York Yankees. The Rays record shows they only have needed Zunino defense. On May 8 he had to leave the game because of tightness to his quad. No news yet whether he will miss any action.

Guillermo Heredia is playing in a backup outfielder role for the Rays. He has played mostly as a defensive replacement. After having a good start is batting average now is .200 but he has only 35 at-bats.

Right-handed reliever Alex Colome who the Mariners traded to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Omar Narvaez is back in his role as closer. He was Tampa Bay’s closer before being traded to the Mariners last May when they made him the setup man to Edwin Diaz.

The White Sox are still in rebuilding mode being fourth in a five-team division in American League Central. Colome has appeared in 15 games with 7 saves. He has an ERA of 1.80.

Now a look at Mariner players who became free agents

The number one decorated free agent was designated hitter Nelson Cruz who signed with the Minnesota Twins. He is having a solid season, especially for a 38-year-old man. He is hitting .277 with seven home runs and 21 RBI’s. His slugging percentage of .536 is higher than last year’s .509.

Cameron Maybin outfielder I am sure everyone is aware with the  New York Yankees primary because of injuries. Last year the Mariners acquire Maybin at the trading deadline.

Maybin signed as a free agent by the San Francisco Giants but was released at the end of spring training. He signed with the Cleveland Indians than purchased by the Yankees on April 25. He didn’t play for Cleveland; with the Yankees, he has played in 11 games with an average of .321. Unless he keeps it up Maybin will likely be released by the Yankees when one of the outfielders returns.

Adam Warren right-handed reliever the Mariners purchased from the New York Yankees at the trading deadline signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Padres during the off-season. Outside of a couple of outings, he is pitching well for the Padres. He has appeared in 14 games with an ERA of 4.32. He does have a problem getting the ball over the plate with eight walks in sixteen innings. He does have 15 strikeouts though.

David Phelps right-handed pitcher missed all last year with the Mariners because of Tommy John surgery signed with the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season. The Blue Jays don’t expect him to return until around the all-star break.

Andrew Romine who had a poor season with the Mariners last year as the utility player is in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He currently is playing triple-A ball batting .323. I expect if the Phillies need him or for that matter another team in the major leagues he will return sometime this season.

Zach Duke left-handed relief specialist the Mariners acquired last year at the trading time had a terrible time with the team. This year he is with the Cincinnati Reds. He is having even a worse season with them so far appearing in 18 games with an ERA of 7.50. Two more runs per nine innings than he had with the Mariners.

Veteran infielder  Gordon Beckham who spent most of the last two years playing with Mariners triple-A Tacoma signed with the Detroit Tigers during the off-season. He made the ball club out of spring training. He has the role of utility player and in 17 games so far he has appeared in he has played nine games at shortstop. He is hitting a respectable .261 with three home runs and four RBI’s.

Right-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramirez who the Mariners reacquired on July 28, 2017, missed most of 2018 signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox. He appeared in one game for Boston, he is now with triple-A Pawtucket in the Red Sox organization. He has started five games with a record of 1-2 with an ERA of 4.91.

San Francisco right-handed reliever Nick Vincent was optioned by the Mariners to triple-A after last season to make room on the 40-man roster; Vincent decided to be a free agent instead. For three years he was one of the Mariners top setup men.

Nick Vincent with the Giants has a record so far of 0-1, however, is pitching solidly with an ERA of 2.45 appearing in 13 innings going 22 innings giving up 20, but striking out 22 batters.

Catcher Chris Herrmann Oakland A’s was one of the Mariner backup catchers last year. He currently is on the 60-day injured list for surgery to his right knee. Probably won’t return until mid-June. A versatile player as he can play first base well as the outfield.

So this is the players who played 2018 season for the Mariners and now are on other teams or organizations.