Mariners' low-risk, high-reward signing is already showing he belongs in the bullpen

The Seattle Mariners have had one of the best bullpens in all of baseball for the last few years, including last season when they ranked ninth in ERA, fourth in WHIP, and second in opposing team batting average. This season, however, the relievers have had their issues, with only Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash and Gabe Speier stepping up as relievers for Dan Wilson to count on.

In early June the Mariners bullpen was ranked 22nd in WHIP, 27th in opposing team batting average, and had the lowest strikeout rate in the American League. This prompted the organization to take a gamble on veteran Daniel Bard by signing him to a minor league deal.

Mariners finding out there's still life left in the old dog

Despite Bard being 40 years of age, this was a low-risk, high-reward gamble worth taking on a pitcher who as recently as 2022 received MVP votes while with the Colorado Rockies. Well, based on the early returns, he's already looking like someone who should be joining the Mariners bullpen sooner than later.

After initially spending time at the organization's Arizona complex, the 2006 first-round draft pick has been sensational during three relief appearances with Triple-A Tacoma. In three combined innings he has allowed just three hits, no walks and no runs, while also striking out six.

Always renowned for his fastball, Bard has seen his velocity increase through his three appearances and reach up to 95.0 mph in his most recent outing, with the potential for better still. It's also worth noting he's had huge whiff rates on his sinker and slider, at 62.5 percent and 50.0 percent respectively.

It really shouldn't come as much of a surprise to see the Houston, Texas native prospering, with all of the adversity he's endured throughout his career. His mental fortitude is beyond reproach, with the best example arguably coming when he was named the 2020 NL Comeback Player of the Year after six years in the Major League wilderness.

Mariners bullpen improving of late but they can still use Daniel Bard

We wrote earlier this week about how the bullpen seems to have turned a corner in the last couple of weeks, defying expectations and providing more reliability for Wilson and the Mariners. However, it could still use another veteran powerful arm, which is where Bard comes in.

Now we appreciate that the Mariners likely still want to see a bit more from Bard in Triple-A Tacoma, but they probably don't want to leave it too long to give him his seemingly well-deserved shot. It will be worth keeping an eye on how this storyline plays out, with the righty having multiple opt-out options between now and the end of next month if he isn't called up to the majors.