The Seattle Mariners have added veteran infielder Patrick Wisdom to their roster, selecting his contract to fill the temporary absence of Rob Refsnyder, who has been placed on the paternity list. To make room for Wisdom on the 40-man roster, the team designated right-handed pitcher Blas Castaño for assignment.
At 34 years old, Wisdom is returning to Major League Baseball for the first time since 2024. He previously spent several seasons with the Chicago Cubs, where he became known for his boom-or-bust offensive style. During the 2021–2023 seasons, he hit at least 23 home runs each year, but his production came with a high strikeout rate, exceeding 34% annually. His performance dipped in 2024, which led him to continue his career overseas in South Korea in 2025.
While playing for the Kia Tigers, Wisdom enjoyed a resurgence, blasting 35 home runs and slightly improving his strikeout rate to 29.2%. That success earned him another opportunity in North America, where he signed a minor league deal with Seattle. So far in Triple-A, he has been in outstanding form, hitting nine home runs in just 15 games. His strikeout rate has dropped significantly to 22.6%, though it’s worth noting he has been facing lower-level pitching. Even within the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, his impressive .264/.371/.774 batting line stands well above average.
Defensively, Wisdom has primarily played third base in the past, but this season he has been used mostly as a first baseman and designated hitter. With Josh Naylor already handling first base duties for the Mariners, Wisdom could slot into the designated hitter role. That position has been shared between right-handed hitter Refsnyder and left-handed Dominic Canzone. Since Wisdom bats right-handed and has historically performed better against left-handed pitching, he could serve as a replacement for Refsnyder in that platoon setup. Over his career, Wisdom has posted stronger numbers against left-handed pitchers compared to right-handers.
Refsnyder’s absence is expected to be brief, as players on the paternity list typically miss only one to three days. Once he returns, the Mariners will have to decide what to do with Wisdom. Because he has less than five years of MLB service time, he can still be optioned back to Triple-A without needing to clear waivers. However, depending on his contract terms and team needs, he could remain with the club as a depth option. Another factor is Connor Joe, a bench player who has seen limited action and could also be sent down if the team reshuffles its roster.
Meanwhile, Blas Castaño’s future with the organization is uncertain. The 27-year-old pitcher has been on Seattle’s 40-man roster since late 2024 but has made only one major league appearance, during which he allowed three earned runs over three innings. Primarily used as rotation depth, he posted a 5.19 ERA in Triple-A last season across more than 120 innings. Although he showed some improvement this year out of the bullpen, his overall performance has been modest.
Castaño now enters the designation-for-assignment process, giving the Mariners up to a week to trade him or attempt to pass him through waivers. If he goes unclaimed, he could remain in the organization as a non-roster depth option.
Leave a Reply