Casey Sadler Returns to the Seattle Mariners After Excellent 2021 Season

The Seattle Mariners agreed to a 1-year, $1.025 million contract with relief pitcher Casey Sadler on Tuesday, bringing back one of 2021’s most dominant relievers in the American League.

Sadler posted a 0.67 ERA, 0.719 WHIP, .143 BAA, and 3.70 K/BB ratio in 2021, and had he not missed nearly half of the season with a shoulder injury, likely would have been a finalist for AL Reliever of the Year. Depending on how Seattle’s starter performed, the 6th or 7th inning belonged to Sadler last season, and his near-perfection frequently set up back-end relievers Paul Sewald and Drew Steckenrider for success.

Casey Sadler uses a balanced mix of two-seam fastballs, sliders, and curveballs, and sprinkles in a changeup on occasion. While known for the massive break on his sliders and curveballs, his fastball actually averaged out at 94.2 mph last season, which, when placed well, can cause hitters serious trouble.

Check out Sadler painting his two-seamer on the outside corner to freeze Yan Gomes, one of Oakland’s top hitters:

As you can see, the above strikeout closed out Sadler’s 26th consecutive scoreless appearance, setting a new Mariners franchise record. While putting up stellar numbers all season, Sadler proceeded to execute three more consecutive scoreless relief appearances, extending his franchise record scoreless streak to 29 in a row.

Sadler’s journey to success with the Mariners did not come easy; he entered professional baseball as a 25th-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010, then spent time with the Rays, Dodgers, and Cubs before being claimed off of waivers by Seattle in 2020.

Incredibly enough, a few months before Sadler was claimed by the Mariners, he and his wife actually purchased a home in the Seattle area:

Whether Casey Sadler’s success in Seattle was fate or pure coincidence, we’re sure happy it worked out for he and his family, and we’re thrilled to have him around for another season of Mariners baseball.