Ian

McKinney

He’ll make $185,000 on the deal in replacing Eric Jokisch on the roster. McKinney, 28, was a fifth-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2015 and has been pitching in independent ball since being released by the Mariners last summer. He has never appeared in the majors.

McKinney re-signed with the Mariners on a minor league contract last offseason and has yet to reach the majors. The 27-year-old left-hander struggled to a 10.07 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 8/17 K/BB ratio across 22 1/3 innings (10 appearances, four starts) this season at Triple-A Tacoma.

It’s the first series of cuts for the Mariners this spring. Weigel is the most interesting of the bunch having appeared in four games in the majors over the last two seasons with the Braves and Brewers.

McKinney returns to the Mariners’ minor-league system after compiling a respectable 4.57 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 98/43 K/BB ratio across 86 2/3 innings (17 appearances, 16 starts) between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma last season. The 27-year-old lefty will add to the Mariners’ organizational pitching depth entering the 2022 campaign.