The Seattle Mariners' bullpen depth is being tested once again, as the club announced today that left-handed reliever Gabe Speier has been placed on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation. It's the latest setback for a team that's been navigating injuries all season, but the front office is wasting no time in restocking the arms.
To fill Speier's spot, the Mariners have activated left-hander José Suarez, who was recently claimed off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. In a corresponding move, Seattle also selected the contract of lefty Josh Simpson from Triple-A Tacoma, while sending right-hander Cole Wilcox back to Tacoma to clear room on the roster.
Speier, 31, has been a reliable arm out of the bullpen this season, but his underlying numbers tell a different story than his surface-level stats. While his ERA might look passable, his expected batting average (.261), expected slugging percentage (.466), and expected weighted on-base average (.337) are all career highs—and roughly 100 points worse than where he finished last season. That's a red flag for any team relying on him in high-leverage spots.
One of the biggest changes in Speier's approach has been his pitch mix. He's leaning on his slider more than ever, throwing it 35% of the time this season compared to last year. But the results haven't followed. His slider command has been inconsistent, and when the pitch drifts up in the zone instead of staying low, hitters have been making him pay. The Mariners are hoping a stint on the IL will give him time to reset and rediscover that sharp, downward break.
With Speier sidelined, Seattle is taking a two-pronged approach to shore up the left side of their bullpen. Suarez brings major league experience and a fresh start after his waiver claim, while Simpson offers an intriguing, if unpredictable, option. The 28-year-old Simpson has a nasty sweeper and genuine strikeout stuff, but his Achilles' heel has always been command. He's struggled to throw strikes consistently at Triple-A, and that issue hasn't resolved itself yet. The Mariners will likely give him a short leash, hoping he can find the zone on the fly at the big league level—no small task.
As for Wilcox, the promising right-hander heads back to Tacoma after a brief stint in Seattle. The team believes in his stuff, but as the old saying goes, you have to throw strikes to succeed in the majors. For now, the Mariners are betting on a mix of new faces and fresh arms to keep their bullpen afloat while Speier recovers. We'll update this story as more details emerge on the severity of his shoulder inflammation.