Ariel

Miranda

Miranda was the MVP of the KBO last year after registering a 2.33 ERA and sensational 225/63 K/BB ratio with the Bears. He just couldn’t stay on the field in 2022 because of shoulder troubles, and Doosan gave the left-hander his walking papers to sign Brandon Waddell as his replacement. Miranda could -- and should -- see interest in a variety of leagues this winter.

Miranda was phenomenal in his KBO debut last season, recording a pristine 2.33 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 225/63 K/BB ratio across 173 2/3 innings (28 starts). The 32-year-old left-hander established a new single-season KBO strikeout record and was voted the league’s regular season MVP as well. He will earn a $1.6 million base salary and also receive a $300,000 signing bonus to return to Korea.

There’s no word yet on the financial framework, but KBO clubs have been paying pretty well as of late. Miranda, who last pitched in MLB with the Mariners in 2018, put up a 3.80 ERA with 170 strikeouts over 156 1/3 innings (25 starts) this past summer for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

Walker made his return from right foot tendinitis on Saturday against the Angels and was hammered for six runs on seven hits and two walks over four innings. He failed to strike out any of the 19 batters he faced. He’s apparently healthy now, but the Mariners want him to work on things in the minors. The recently-acquired Arquimedes Caminero will take his place on the active roster while Ariel Miranda will remain in the rotation.

Miranda left the game with the Mariners leading 6-3, but the Brewers rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth to snatch a 7-6 comeback win at Safeco Field. Miranda pitched pretty well overall, striking out five, walking just one, and yielding only four total hits. It’s not clear whether he is going to get another rotation turn.

Walks ended up spelling the end of Miranda’s evening, as he handed out free passes to Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout to open the sixth inning, at which point he was removed for reliever Nick Vincent. Albert Pujols would smack a three-run homer off Vincent to account for the final two runs on Miranda’s line. Miranda was making the start in place of James Paxton (elbow) and could see future opportunities out of the rotation depending on how quickly Paxton heals up. For the season, the 27-year-old Miranda has surrendered nine runs on 17 hits over 14 innings.

The left-hander will get the ball Thursday night in the Mariners’ series finale against Boston. Miranda joined the M’s Sunday in a trade that sent Wade Miley to the Orioles. Thursday will be his first big league start after making a relief appearance for Baltimore earlier this year.

Miranda was a little generous with the hits, but it was otherwise a fine starting debut at the big league level -- particularly given the offense he was facing. Travis Shaw crunched a solo home run off the 27-year-old in the second inning and Mookie Betts picked up an RBI double in the fifth. Otherwise, the Red Sox were unable to cash in on their opportunities during Miranda’s watch. It remains to be seen how the Mariners might utilize him moving forward, but if nothing else, he pitched well enough on Thursday to give the M’s something to think about. He held a 3.93 ERA and 87/31 K/BB ratio over 100 2/3 frames with the Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate prior to being traded over to the West Coast for Wade Miley on July 31.

The deal is still pending physicals. Miranda, a 27-year-old southpaw, was signed out of Cubs in 2015. He owns a 3.93 ERA over 19 starts at Triple-A Norfolk this season.

Miranda, a 27-year-old left-hander, had registered a 3.93 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 87/31 K/BB ratio across 100 2/3 innings (19 starts) this season at Triple-A Norfolk. He’ll begin his Mariners tenure at Triple-A Tacoma but could emerge as an option for the Seattle rotation before the end of the year.