Drew

Steckenrider

Steckenrider will compete this spring in the Cactus League for a spot in the A’s season-opening bullpen. The 32-year-old righty reliever made 16 appearances with the Mariners last year and finished with a bloated 5.65 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, and a 10/5 K/BB ratio. He served as the closer in Seattle in 2021 and collected 14 saves with a superb 2.00 ERA so maybe he can reclaim some of that magic this spring.

Steckenrider passed through waivers unclaimed and will remain with the Mariners as organizational relief depth, if he accepts the outright assignment. The 31-year-old righty compiled a bloated 5.65 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 10/5 K/BB ratio across 14 1/3 innings (16 appearances) this season at the major-league level.

Steckenrider has been chopped from the Mariners’ 40-man roster to make room for infielder Kevin Padlo, who was claimed off waivers from the Giants. The 31-year-old righty posted a lackluster 5.65 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 10/5 K/BB ratio across 14 1/3 innings (16 appearances) this season in the majors. There’s a chance another organization desperate for relief depth gobbles him up off waivers in the next few days.

No corresponding move has been announced, and probably won’t be until Friday with the Mariners off on Thursday. The right-hander served as closer for much of the 2021 season and posted a sensational 2.00 ERA, but he’s been awful in 2022 with a 5.65 ERA and 6.3 strikeout rate per nine innings.

Steckenrider missed the Mariners’ series in Toronto, presumably because he is unvaccinated against COVID-19, but he will be back in the Seattle bullpen for Thursday night’s opener in Boston. Roenis Elias has been returned to Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding 26-man roster move.

Steckenrider will miss the Mariners’ upcoming series in Toronto, which kicks off Monday evening, due to Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine protocols. It’ll be Paul Sewald and Diego Castillo handling any save chances for the next few days.

Fortunately, it was a three-run game and Diego Castillo bailed him out afterwards. Still, this certainly won’t help Steckenrider’s case for more save chances. At this point, Paul Sewald, who pitched a perfect eighth today, seems like the favorite for saves in Seattle.

Steckenrider retired the side in order on 12 pitches. It was actually the first time all season that he managed a 1-2-3 inning. This was also his first save since Opening Day on April 8. The Mariners don’t necessarily have a set closer — and they honestly haven’t had many opportunities either — but Steckenrider remains the most likely option for now.

Steckenrider entered a tie ballgame and wound up surrendering a go-ahead RBI double to Kole Calhoun and an RBI single to Nathaniel Lowe. The 31-year-old righty had fired five scoreless innings and also picked up one save in five appearances prior to this one.

After starter Robbie Ray worked the first seven innings, M’s skipper Scott Servais turned to Paul Sewald to face the top three hitters in the Twins lineup in the eighth inning. He retired all three in order before handing the ball off to Steckenrider in the ninth. He made things interesting by allowing a leadoff single to Luis Arraez, but battled back to get Miguel Sano to pop out to the catcher and then struck out Alek Kirilloff and got Gary Sanchez to fly out to end the ballgame. He’ll once again be a valuable member of the Mariners’ late-inning committee this season.