Jackson Kowar's fate puts a weird spin on trade that got him booted from Mariners

On January 27, the Mariners acquired catcher Jhonny Pereda from Minnesota for cash — and cleared a roster spot by designating Jackson Kowar for assignment. Then on February 3, the Twins claimed Kowar off waivers. It’s not a trade on paper, but it sure plays like one when the 40-man math settles. 

And from the Mariners’ side, the logic isn’t hard to follow, even if the optics are delightfully goofy.

Seattle’s catching depth behind Cal Raleigh matters a lot more than it did a month ago, because the position is basically injury insurance disguised as roster building. Pereda has a minor league option remaining and can live in Tacoma as a break-glass depth piece if the room gets squeezed. That’s not a sexy move, but it’s one that saves you from punting a week of games when the backup situation gets weird. 

Mariners’ bizarre Kowar waiver twist adds an awkward wrinkle to the Pereda deal

Kowar, meanwhile, was exactly the kind of arm a good pitching org takes a flier on — a former first-rounder with a big fastball and that “maybe we can fix this” energy. But once you’re a low-leverage bullpen guy without minor league options, your career basically lives on the edge of the 40-man roster. Seattle got 17 innings out of him last season (4.24 ERA in 15 appearances), and then he wound up shelved late with a shoulder issue. 

It’s not that Kowar is some devastating loss. It’s that the back of the roster is where teams tell you what they actually value. The Mariners have spent the last few seasons building a pitching machine — they can churn out bullpen innings. Catching depth is harder to fake, and way more punishing when it goes sideways. So the “boring” choice wins.

Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic nailed the framing: Seattle traded for Pereda, DFA’d Kowar, and Minnesota claimed Kowar — “so, kind of a trade.” Exactly. And also kind of a shrug. And honestly, it’s the whole offseason vibe: teams juggling depth, playing 40-man Tetris, and acting like it’s all part of the plan instead of a constant, low-grade stress headache. 

The Mariners probably made the right call. It’s just that the right call can still look ridiculous when it loops back around this fast — especially when the team you just bought depth from is the one cashing in your castoff a week later.