On Sunday, the Seattle Mariners added a former division opponent and placed a big league bullpen hopeful on the injured list.
The Mariners claimed Seth Martinez, a right-handed pitcher, off waivers from the Miami Marlins. Meanwhile, right-hander Jackson Kowar was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.
The moves keep Seattle’s 40-man roster intact.
Martinez, a 30-year-old reliever, has spent the previous four seasons with the Houston Astros. In 44 appearances last season, he had a 3-2 record, 3.59 ERA, and 1.27 WHIP, with 36 strikeouts and 18 walks in 52 2/3 innings thrown.
The Arizona State product’s greatest season occurred in 2022, when he posted a 2.09 ERA across 38 2/3 innings in 29 games. Martinez is 6-6 with a 3.93 ERA in 137 1/3 career major league innings.
Martinez has been claimed off waivers three times this summer. The Arizona Diamondbacks grabbed him in November, followed by the Miami Marlins in February.
Kowar, a former first-round choice, appeared in two spring training games last year before having Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He was acquired last offseason along with right-hander Cole Phillips in a deal that brought outfielder Jarred Kelenic, left-hander Marco Gonzales, and first baseman Evan White to Atlanta.
Kowar threw bullpen sessions earlier this spring, but he isn’t anticipated to be ready until late May, according to Seattle Sports’ Mariners insider Shannon Drayer on social media.
In 39 career games (eight starts) across three seasons, Kowar is 2-6 with a 9.12 ERA.
