Former Mariners lefty reveals he's leaving for rival Angels on own Instagram

This one didn’t come with a tidy press release or even a transaction log update. Former Seattle Mariners left-hander Tayler Saucedo basically broke his own news, updating his personal Instagram to reflect that he’s headed to the Los Angeles Angels. MLB.com reported the agreement afterward, noting the contract details weren’t known yet. However, it looks like an agreement to minor-league deal with a big-league spring invite. 

Yeah… it’s the Angels. A division rival. The team Mariners fans love beating because it’s usually weird, chaotic, and somehow still annoying when you win nine out of 13 games but still feel the sting of Jo Adell’s bat. But of course this is how the Saucedo news hits: not via an official announcement. The guy’s always marched to his own beat, so the online equivalent of ‘soft launching’ your new job checks out.

Tayler Saucedo is headed to the Angels, and the timing feels very on brand

Saucedo wasn’t some anonymous cup-of-coffee arm in Seattle. He’s always had a big personality, and when he was right, he backed it up as a legit, serviceable lefty out of the bullpen for stretches in 2023 and 2024. The kind of reliever who makes you feel comfortable when the opposing lineup stacks lefties and the game is wobbling. That’s why the 2025 spiral was so jarring: 10 MLB appearances, 7.43 ERA, and suddenly he was a problem you had to manage. 

Seattle ultimately designated him for assignment in November and he elected free agency soon after. 

Part of what made Saucedo’s finish in Seattle feel so heavy was that late-season stretch where the conversation drifted beyond baseball. He publicly addressed ugly, threatening messages tied to sports betting culture. It was a gross reminder that players aren’t just dealing with results — they’re dealing with the internet turning their worst outings into someone else’s unhinged meltdown. 

The Angels signing him now fits their whole winter vibe: take on a reclamation project, and see if a new environment unlocks something. And to be fair, Saucedo wasn’t a total lost cause, he put up a 2.75 ERA at Triple-A Tacoma in 2025, which is exactly the kind of “maybe there’s still something here” breadcrumb a desperate bullpen will chase. 

For the Mariners, this is not even close to a franchise-altering loss. But it is one of those annoying little reminders: a guy Seattle once relied on is now trying to reappear in Anaheim — and sometimes, baseball loves nothing more than the former reliever revenge cameo.