Mariners Face Interesting Deadline with Former Big League Reliever

The Seattle Mariners have 48 hours to make a roster move with their bullpen. Here's the latest.

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Joey Krehbiel (52) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning at Chase Field in 2023. / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners have 48 hours to promote veteran reliever Joey Krehbiel to the major league roster or lose him.

Per Ari Alexander on social media:

Source: RHP Joey Krehbiel exercised his Assignment Clause today with the Mariners.

Krehbiel has a 3.74 ERA and a very strong 1.04 WHIP & 5 saves for Triple-A Tacoma in the hitter-friendly PCL.

He has a career 3.65 MLB ERA in 74 innings.

Source: RHP Joey Krehbiel exercised his Assignment Clause today with the Mariners.

Krehbiel has a 3.74 ERA and a very strong 1.04 WHIP & 5 saves for Triple-A Tacoma in the hitter-friendly PCL.

He has a career 3.65 MLB ERA in 74 innings. pic.twitter.com/EjvyKGA9Qf

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) July 1, 2024

Alexander also added more information on what the "assignment clause" means and what's coming:

Mariners then have 48 hours to either add him to the 40-man roster, or trade him to a team that shows interest. If a team says they want to trade for him and put him on their 40/26, the Mariners have to trade him.

No…when the clause is triggered, 29 other teams get notified.

Mariners then have 48 hours to either add him to the 40-man roster, or trade him to a team that shows interest. If a team says they want to trade for him and put him on their 40/26, the Mariners have to trade him.

— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) July 1, 2024

The 31-year-old Krehbiel has pitched in parts of four big league seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles. He pitched in a career-high 56 games for Baltimore in 2022 and threw in six games for the O's in 2023. Lifetime, he's 6-5 with a 3.65 ERA.

As for the M's decision, it's still unknown at this time what they will do. What we do know is that they have room on the 40-man roster to add Krehbiel. They also currently have Eduard Bazardo on the 26-man roster, and he is running an ERA of 7.98, so Krehbiel could be a logical replacement for him.

The Mariners are currently 47-39 on the season and in first place in the American League West. They'll start a new series against the Orioles on Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. PT.

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