Seattle Mariners are making changes to their pitching staff ahead of their upcoming matchup with the Houston Astros, as the club is reportedly designating left-handed pitcher José Suarez for assignment. The move comes as Seattle prepares to welcome starting pitcher Bryce Miller back from the 15-day injured list.
According to reports from Ari Alexander of Boston 7 News, Miller is expected to return to the mound and start Wednesday’s game against Houston. In order to create room on the active roster, the Mariners chose Suarez as the player to remove from the pitching staff.
Suarez had only recently joined Seattle after being claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on May 3. His stint with the Mariners ended quickly, as he made just one appearance for the team. During that outing, he surrendered one run on two hits and two walks over two innings of work.
The 28-year-old has struggled overall this season between Atlanta and Seattle. Across 18 1/3 innings, Suarez owns a 6.38 ERA while showing inconsistent command. Although he has managed to strike out opponents at an above-average rate of 27%, his control problems have hurt him significantly. Suarez has issued walks at nearly a 16% clip, continuing a troubling trend that has followed him over the last few seasons.
Earlier in his career with the Los Angeles Angels, Suarez showed promise as a starting pitcher and was known for throwing strikes more consistently. However, his command has declined in recent years, making it difficult for him to maintain a stable role at the major league level.
Suarez is currently playing under a $900,000 arbitration contract, which is only slightly above the league minimum salary. While he still offers value as a left-handed arm capable of pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen, any team interested in claiming him would need to keep him on its active MLB roster because he is out of minor league options.
The Mariners now have several possible paths moving forward. The organization has five days to either trade Suarez or place him on outright waivers. If he clears waivers without being claimed, Seattle could attempt to send him to Triple-A Tacoma. Suarez would have the option to reject that assignment and elect free agency instead, though doing so would mean giving up the remainder of his guaranteed salary. Because of that financial factor, it is considered more likely that he would accept a minor league assignment if no team claims him.
Seattle’s roster adjustments are also tied to broader pitching changes within the organization. With Miller returning, the Mariners are expected to transition to a six-man starting rotation. That decision will naturally reduce the size of the bullpen from eight relievers to seven.
Pitchers like Alex Hoppe and Cooper Criswell could take on larger bullpen responsibilities moving forward. Hoppe has already handled multiple-inning appearances this season, while Criswell has experience as a long reliever but has recently begun earning opportunities in shorter, higher-pressure situations.
As Seattle continues adjusting its pitching staff, the club hopes Miller’s return can strengthen the rotation while the bullpen settles into new roles during the middle part of the season.
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