Carlos Vargas, who hasn't pitched all season, was reinstated from the injured list on Friday.
On Thursday night, the big news for the Seattle Mariners was the pending promotion of top prospect Kade Anderson, who will make his major league debut on Saturday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs (4:15 p.m. PT).
On Friday, with everyone still buzzing about Anderson's looming debut, the Mariners made another crucial move on the pitching staff: Reinstating Carlos Vargas from the 60-day injured list.
Vargas hasn't pitched yet this season because of a lat issue suffered right before Opening Day. He's made four rehab appearances between Triple-A Tacoma and High-A Everett, going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and striking out six hitters in 4.2 innings. He last pitched on Tuesday, so he should be fully available for Friday's series opener with Chicago.
About Vargas
Now 26 years old, the hard-throwing right-hander was acquired before the 2024 season in the ill-fated deal that sent Eugenio Suarez to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Given that he was out of options before the 2025 season, Vargas needed to either make the Opening Day roster or be designated for assignment, and he was able to make an impact all season long for Dan Wilson's bullpen.
Armed with a fastball near 100 mph, Vargas also features a good slider, though he can have some control issues at times.
He appeared in 70 games last season for the M's, who won the American League West and advanced to the American League Championship Series. In 77.0 innings, he went 5-5 with a 3.97 ERA. He struck out 54 batters in those 77.0 innings and regularly gets ground balls.
Seattle Mariners pitcher Carlos Vargas against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesHow he'll impact the Mariners bullpen
The Mariners bullpen has seemed an arm short most of the season, but especially in the absence of Vargas, Matt Brash and Cooper Criswell, who have all been injured.
Getting Vargas back gives Dan Wilson another mid-to-high leverage arm to pair with Gabe Speier, Jose Ferrer, Eduard Bazardo and Seranthony Dominguez. He has the ability to throw multiple innings at a time, which will allow Wilson to hopefully lessen the load on some of those other relievers.
Corresponding move
Nick Davila was sent to Triple-A and Brash was moved to the 60-day injured list.
Up next
The Mariners will send Emerson Hancock to the mound on Friday night against left-hander Mathew Boyd. Boyd, who pitched for the Mariners at one point in 2022, has gone 8-2 with a 4.02 ERA this season. The 35-year-old gave up seven earned runs in his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Of note
The most recent edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast is out, talking about Kade Anderson's call-up and featuring a conversation with Mariners infielder Ryan Bliss. You can listen here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below.
