Mariners make a couple of pitching signings to boost the bullpen

The Mariners have signed Trevor Gott and Garrett Hill as they aim to avoid repeating last year, when the bullpen was worn out by the end.

One of the main needs for the Seattle Mariners this coming season, is for the bullpen to provide strong support to arguably the best rotation in the Majors. As good as the relievers were collectively in 2024 as a whole, the reality is they broke down as the year progressed and were running on fumes by the end of the campaign.

The return of Matt Brash after missing all of last season will help, as should a healthier Gregory Santos, who was limited to eight appearances in 2024 due to injury issues. However, the Mariners still need more depth in order to avoid a repeat of last year.

With this in mind, the Mariners have signed a couple of right-handed relievers to potentially help the bullpen. More specifically Trevor Gott and Garrett Hill, who have both agreed to minor league deals with the organization.

A second stint with the Mariners organization

Beginning with Gott, his signing has been officially confirmed by the club itself, with Executive Vice President and General Manager of Baseball Operations Justin Hollander announcing the move on Tuesday. The minor league deal comes with a non-roster invite to Major League camp.

If Gott sounds familiar, it’s because he was previously with the Mariners to begin the 2023 season, before being traded to the New York Mets on July 3. He made 30 appearances during his time in Seattle, producing a 4.03 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 1.414 WHIP and 24.8 percent strikeout rate over 29.0 combined innings.

The 32-year-old missed all of last season, after tearing his UCL in camp with the Athletics and having to undergo Tommy John surgery. The Mariners will of course be hoping he can make a full recovery and help in 2025, with him deploying a pitching arsenal which mostly revolves around a cutter, sinker and four-seam fastball.

For his Major League career as a whole, Gott has 243.2 combined innings over eight years, in the process recording a 4.65 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 1.309 WHIP and 21.0 percent strikeout rate. Aside from the Mariners and Mets, he has also seen action with the Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals, San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers.

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Garrett Hill no sure thing for the M’s

As for Hill, his signing has not been announced by the Mariners at the time of writing, but it has been noted on his MLB.com profile page. In any event, there is no official confirmation if his minor league deal similarly includes an invite to Major League camp.

Hill has less extensive experience compared to Gott on his resume, and the reality is he will likely begin the 2025 season in the minors. In two Major League seasons — both with the Detroit Tigers — he has made 26 appearances, and produced a 5.09 ERA, 5.67 FIP, and 1.513 WHIP in 76.0 combined innings.

The 29-year-old was decent enough in his rookie season in the Majors, but took a big step back in 2023 and overall has struggled with both walks and producing strikeouts. He began the 2024 campaign on the injured list and after he returned during May, he continued to struggle in Triple-A.

Hill possesses five pitches in his throwing arsenal, but mostly uses a four-seamer fastball and slider. Overall, officially speaking the Mariners now have 75 players in Major League camp, including 40 roster players and 35 non-roster invitees.

Do you have any takes about either of these most recent pitching signings and how they can help the team? What are you overall impressions of spring training so far for the Mariners? Let us know in the comments section below.