Respected former Mariners workhorse will be back in Peoria after a year off

The Seattle Mariners will see a familiar face roaming the corridors at the Peoria Sports Complex next month during spring training, but this time he'll be wearing a rival uniform. As reported by New York Post sports columnist and MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, Marco Gonzales has signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres, which includes a Major League camp invite.

Gonzales did not pitch at all last season as a result of rehabbing from left flexor tendon surgery, which he underwent in September of 2024. There is plenty of reason for him to be motivated this year, with him in line to earn $1.5 million if he makes the Padres' Opening Day roster and another $1 million in incentives.

People in Seattle have a lot of time and respect for Gonzales and understandably so. He proved to be a mainstay for the Mariners and their rotation in the dark times between Félix Hernández/Nelson Cruz/Robinson Canó and the current perennial playoff contender.

The 2013 first round-draft pick wasn't a pitcher who would dazzle you with his form and stats, but he was a dog and he ranks tied-seventh in Mariners history with 148 starts and eighth with 61 wins. He certainly had his moments for the team, including leading the Majors with 34 starts in 2019 and a 9.14 strikeouts-to-walks ratio one year later.

Marco Gonzales a shining light in dark times for the Mariners

Gonzales should be (and we're sure he is) extremely proud of the fact he was the Mariners' Opening Day starter between 2019-2021, but unfortunately his productivity started to fall away the following year to coincide with the team getting better. His final season in 2023 was a rough one, as he was limited to 10 starts and a career-low -0.5 bWAR before undergoing season-ending surgery.

That offseason would also be an eventful one for the righty as he was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with Jarred Kelenic and Evan White in exchange for Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips, a deal which at the time shocked plenty of fans. Interestingly, as SoDo Mojo's Zachary Rymer wrote on Wednesday, Kowar has now been designated for assignment by the M's, to all but close the book on the trade which Gonzales was a part of.

Gonzales actually only lasted two days in Atlanta before being traded again, this time to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He did begin the 2024 season in the rotation and looked promising early on with a 2.65 ERA though thee starts, but injuries took their toll as he was limited to just four more outings during the campaign.

Whether injuries continue to impact Gonzales remains to be seen, with age an obvious factor even though he's not as old as some people might think, with him set to turn 34 on Feb. 16. In any event, it's really good to see him get another shot somewhere and we're sure most people in the Pacific Northwest will wish him the best of luck, except if and when he's on the mound versus the Mariners.