T-Mobile Park (Photo by Susan Dennis, via Flickr)
Calling up players in September is an annual ritual. Last season, however, roster sizes were restricted to 28. It was 28 before last season, but COVID allowed teams to go beyond that, so MLB reintroduced the rule last season.
Their current roster size is 26, so the Seattle Mariners will add two players. Joe Swenson analyzes the potential candidates to join the M’s on September 1.
The easiest additions to consider are members of the organization who are on the 40-man roster, as no one has to be Designated For Assignment to make room for them.
Justus Sheffield
Fans haven’t seen him in a Seattle Mariners uniform since June, but Justus Sheffield is still in the organization. He’s struggled at Tacoma this year with a 7.12 ERA in 92.1 innings. But he’s a lefty, and the M’s are thin in that area.
Seattle will need someone in the bullpen besides Flexen to eat innings should a start go sideways. Right now, the Mariners shuffle between a 1A and 1B set-up in the bullpen with some combination of Andres Munoz/ Paul Sewald and Erik Swanson/ Diego Castillo as the primary set-up closer situation.
The emergence of Penn Murfee and Matthew Festa as viable late-inning options means they don’t have a lot of innings eaters outside of Flexen. It’s a great problem to have, and Sheffield could be another arm in the bullpen to eat innings.
Matthew Boyd
Another lefty, Matthew Boyd, is new to the Seattle Mariners, coming over in a deadline trade from San Francisco with Curt Casali to provide some innings. He’s been a starter throughout his seven-year Major League career, but Boyd isn’t likely to be a starter in Seattle this season coming back from elbow surgery. The Sammamish, Washington native, could be an asset in the bullpen as a long man if one of the Mariners’ starting five falters.
Abraham Toro
Abraham Toro is probably going to occupy one of those 28 spots. He’s a super-utility infielder whose bat can get hot at times. Additionally, Torro is fast. While the man he’s replacing, Dylan Moore, is on the Injured List, having that extra speed available to Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais will be helpful.
The multilingual Toro also brings energy. When Moore comes off the IL, the Mariners might have a decision to make about Toro. But for now, he’s the 26th guy on the roster.
Jarred Kelenic/Kyle Lewis/Alberto Rodriguez/Taylor Trammell/Derek Hill
The Seattle Mariners’ 40-man roster contains five outfielders in the minors.
Derek Hill will likely get the call as the former first round pick with major league experience. It’s a small sample size, but he’s had more success than either Jarred Kelenic or Taylor Trammell, with a career .240 batting average in 95 games. A true fourth outfielder with speed, Hill can play any of the outfield positions.
The next best option would be Kelenic. He’s the strongest defensively, and his efforts at AAA have to translate to the big leagues at some point. Let’s not forget that he’s only 22 years old.
Meanwhile, Kyle Lewis is doubtful because he’s not been the same player since his concussion on May 29. Don’t expect Alberto Rodriguez either; it’s not his time yet.
These players aren’t likely, because someone has to be DFA’d to make room for the player. But stranger things have happened.
Emerson Hancock
The Seattle Mariners 2020 first round pick had a mostly injury-free season and is on pace to make 20 starts. Emerson Hancock isn’t completely stretched out, meaning his pitch count caps out at around 80-90. That could be great for the M’s, considering his triple-digit fastball, advanced change-up, and wipe-out slider would play well in the Mariners bullpen.
Hancock also might not be called up right away as the Double-A Arkansas Travelers are fighting for a postseason spot, and he’s a big part of their team.
Zach DeLoach
Seattle’s second round pick in 2020, Zach DeLoach, has shown some pop in his bat and a keen eye for the strike zone. Plus, he could fit in as the fourth outfielder as he has minor league experience at each outfield spot.
Joe Rizzo
With the organization since 2016, Joe Rizzo can play first, second, or third base. His defense is a bit suspect, but he doesn’t strike out a lot, walks at a decent clip, and has some big league pop in his bat. He has now played two seasons at Double-A. While he’s shown some micro-progression, a change of scenery could be really good for him.
The Pack
There are others still to be considered that aren’t on the 40-man roster, such as Nick Margevicius, Drew Steckenrider, Roenis Elias, Luis Torrens, and Marcus Wilson.
There is another intriguing name on the 40-man roster, Brennan Bernardino, who is in Tacoma. The 30-year-old has pitched in two Major League games with so-so results. He’s a lefty that doesn’t give up hits and doesn’t really walk anyone. Bernardino could be an intriguing addition to a bullpen full of dominant relievers.
Who will get the call-up? Only two players will join the main roster in September. If Boyd is healthy enough to go, it will be him for sure. If not, then the M’s are looking at players that have already been up with the club or are on the 40-man roster. This brings the conversation back to Sheffield, Kelenic, K-Lew, and Trammell.
Joe Swenson is an award-winning international playwright. His play, “The Final Out,” is set to be produced in Greenville, SC, before moving to Vet Rep in NYC. It’s a play about baseball and relationships.