Another Bullpen Option For Seattle Mariners is Available to Sign

The Seattle Mariners will be looking to make the necessary improvements to the roster before a lockout is implemented Dec. 2 after the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the MLB and MLB Players Association expires.

One of those needs, per Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, is at reliever.

Based on comments made by Dipoto, Seattle would like to add one-to-two arms to its bullpen before it runs out of time to make any moves pertaining to the major league roster.

There will be a bevy of arms available in free agency for the Mariners to pursue, several of whom are among the best relievers in the game, such as San Diego Padres left-hander Adrian Morejon and Atlanta Braves right-hander Raisel Iglesias.

Seattle will likely have to contend with many other teams for those aforementioned relievers, including others at or near the top of the talent heap.

The Mariners are estimated to have $30-35 million to spend in free agency, meaning coming out successfully in the pursuit of one of the top relievers could result in most of the available payroll being spent.

Seattle also could pursue alternative options aside from the big names among the high-end bullpen arms.

Right-handed pitcher Kaima Taira was recently posted by the Seibu Lions from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. The Mariners reportedly scouted Taira in the past and he experience as a closer and a starter, making him an intriguing prospect for any team.

However, recent reports suggest that Taira wants to be a starting pitcher. He's also represented by super agent Scott Boras. Those factors could take him out of Seattle's price range.

There's another international reliever that recently became available that could fit better within the Mariners' budget.

Taiwanese right-handed pitcher Jyun-Yue Tseng, who's spent six years in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), was recently posted and will be available to sign with major league teams. He'll likely have to sign before the CBA expires Dec. 1, as none of the other posted players will be granted a pause on their posting window after the CBA ends.

The 25-year-old right-handed pitcher has been the star reliever for the Fubon Guardians and represented his team in the 2023 and 2026 World Baseball Classic. He was team Taiwan's go-to closer in the international tournament and struck out six hitters in four innings pitched without giving up a run or free base. He pitched against South Korea and the Czech Republic in the '26 WBC.

This past season with the Guardians, Tseng had 25 saves in 48 outings and fanned 65 hitters while walking just 13 in 52.1 innings of work.

Tseng is listed at 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds and boasts a four-pitch mix of a four-seam fastball, a cutter, a slider and a splitter. He averages in the low-to-mid 90s with his fastball but has hit the upper 90s multiple times.

The most notable recent example of a player making the transition from the CPBL to the MLB is shortstop Yu Chang, who signed a contract with the Cleveland Guardians (then Indians) in 2013 and made his major league debut in 2019. He appeared in the majors in five consecutive seasons beginning that year. He failed to play in more than 89 games in a single season.

Chang last played in the major leagues in 2023 with the Boston Red Sox. He opted to return to the CPBL after that year. Despite his impressive resume and profile, it's unlikely many, if any teams, would be willing to offer him a major league contract to start his career stateside.

Tseng will likely need time in the minor leagues before appearing any major league consideration, which might be preferable to Seattle.

The minor leagues operate under a different CBA than the major leagues. If the Mariners are able to sign Tseng to a minor league deal, he'll be able to develop and get regularly-scheduled games under his belt.

Once a new CBA is signed and the major league season begins, if the Taiwan native is impressive enough in the minor leagues, Seattle could be able to call him up and add him to the bullpen. A minor league deal also wouldn't impact the team's major league payroll, which would let the team pursue other relievers while adding to its organizational depth.

At worst, the Mariners could add another intriguing arm to their bullpen depth that could yield results down the road. At best, they could sign a pitcher for cheap that will bolster the bullpen once the 2027 season is underway.