Athletics' Drew Steckenrider: On restricted list in Vegas
Rotowire
Steckenrider was placed on Triple-A Las Vegas' restricted list for an undisclosed reason March 31, the team's official site reports.
The veteran reliever had a rough Cactus League stint this spring, allowing eight runs on 16 hits and four walks across 11.2 innings. Steckenrider, who pitched to an 0-2 record, 5.65 ERA and 1.81 WHIP across 16 appearances with the Mariners last season, is projected to eventually begin the 2023 campaign with the Aviators, but he'll naturally have to first clear his restricted status.
Athletics' Drew Steckenrider: Joins Oakland for camp
Rotowire
Steckenrider signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Saturday that includes an invitation to MLB spring training, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Steckenrider was an indispensable reliever for the Mariners during the 2021 season, turning in a 2.00 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 58:17 K:BB across 67.2 innings while collecting 14 saves. He appeared primed to maintain a key late-inning role for Seattle in 2022, but he took a huge step back in performance with a 5.65 ERA and 1.81 WHIP over 14.1 innings before he was ultimately booted off the 40-man roster in June. The 32-year-old didn't find much success (4.62 ERA, 21:17 K:BB in 25.1 innings) while spending the final three-plus months of the campaign at Triple-A Tacoma, but the Athletics are hoping the change of scenery will help him rediscover the strong form he displayed two years ago. With a strong spring, Steckrider should have a fair chance at winning a spot in Oakland's Opening Day bullpen.
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Mariners' Drew Steckenrider: Clears waivers
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Steckenrider cleared waivers Tuesday and was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma.
Steckenrider led the Mariners' closer committee with 14 saves last season despite a 21.7 percent strikeout rate that hardly looked like closer material. While he did manage two saves in the early part of this season, his strikeout rate plummeted to 14.7 percent while his ERA jumped to 5.65 across 14.1 innings. He was optioned in late May and designated for assignment Saturday. No other team wanted to claim the 31-year-old righty, so he'll remain as organizational depth for now.
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Mariners' Drew Steckenrider: Designated for assignment
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Steckenrider was designated for assignment Saturday.
Steckenrider lost his spot on Seattle's big-league roster in late May, and he has now also ceded his spot on the 40-man roster. He will be placed on waivers, and it remains to be seen what his next move will be.
Steckenrider was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.
The right-hander has worked as a member of Seattle's closer committee early in 2022 and has two saves and four holds, but he's been unreliable with two blown saves and a 5.65 ERA over 14.1 innings. Steckenrider pitched well last year with a 2.00 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 58:17 K:BB in 62 games with 14 saves and seven holds, but he's been unable to replicate that success this season. He could receive another opportunity with the Mariners later in the summer, but for now he'll head to Tacoma and attempt to right the ship.
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Mariners' Drew Steckenrider: Returns from restricted list
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Steckenrider was reinstated from the restricted list Thursday.
Steckenrider missed Seattle's three-game series in Toronto while on the restricted list, an indication that he'd made himself ineligible to cross the border into Canada by declining to vaccinate himself against COVID-19. He'll return to his role as part of the Mariners' closer committee going forward, a job that has gotten him two saves despite a 4.85 ERA and 15.0 percent strikeout rate.
Mariners' Drew Steckenrider: Goes on restricted list
Rotowire
Seattle placed Steckenrider on the restricted list Monday.
The Mariners are set to begin a three-game series in Toronto on Monday, so Steckrider's addition to the restricted list implies that he won't be eligible to cross the Canadian border due to his vaccination status. Seattle selected Roenis Elias' contract from Triple-A Tacoma, allowing him to temporarily take Steckenrider's spot on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster. He was pulled from a save situation after giving up two earned runs in Sunday's 8-7 win over the Mets, but Steckenrider has been part of the Mariners' closer committee for much of the season. While Steckenrider isn't with the team in Toronto, the likes of Diego Castillo, Paul Sewald and Andres Munoz could have clearer paths to saves.
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Mariners' Drew Steckenrider: Allows two runs in ninth inning
Rotowire
Steckenrider allowed two runs on four hits in one-third of an inning to earn the hold in Sunday's win over the Mets.
Steckenrider earned the save in Friday's series opener against the Mets, and he entered Sunday's matchup in the ninth inning to preserve a three-run lead. He forced a flyout to begin the inning but gave up two runs on a triple, two singles and a double prior to being removed. Although he was credited with the hold since Diego Castillo held the Mariners scoreless over two-thirds of an inning, Steckenrider wasn't very sharp Sunday. However, Steckenrider has been a clear part of Seattle's closer committee this year, and his two saves are tied for the team lead.
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Mariners' Drew Steckenrider: Nails down second save
Rotowire
Steckenrider worked a perfect ninth inning without a walk or a strikeout to record his second save of the season in Friday's 2-1 win over the Mets.
He pounded the zone, firing 10 of 12 pitches for strikes, and induced weak contact from the bottom of the New York order. Steckenrider's two saves lead the Seattle closer committee, with Paul Sewald, Diego Castillo and Andres Munoz all having picked up one each.
Steckenrider recorded his third hold in a win over the Marlins on Sunday, firing a scoreless eighth inning during which he allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout.
Facing his old Marlins squad, Steckenrider made relatively quick work of Joey Wendle, Jon Berti and Garrett Cooper, retiring the last two batters on a swinging strikeout and lineout to center, respectively, to get out of a jam. The right-hander has now followed up a pair of outings in which he allowed a total of three earned runs with back-to-back scoreless, one-inning efforts.
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Mariners' Drew Steckenrider: Blows save
Rotowire
Steckenrider blew the save and allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout in an inning of work in a 5-4 win Sunday over Kansas City.
Steckenrider entered the game to start the ninth inning with the Mariners leading 3-2. After retiring the first batter, he gave up a solo home run to Hunter Dozier to even the score. The righty did not allow a run in his first five appearances but has given up three runs over his last two contests. The Mariners' closer situation is by-committee at this point, as Steckenrider is one of three relievers with one save, and there is no clear frontrunner.
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Mariners' Drew Steckenrider: Takes first loss Thursday
Rotowire
Steckenrider (0-1) was saddled with the loss against the Rangers on Thursday, allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning. He also recorded a strikeout.
Steckenrider was tasked with preserving a 6-6 tie when he entered in the ninth, and he seemed well on his way when he induced a flyout and swinging strikeout from Corey Seager and Mitch Garver to open the frame. However, following an Adolis Garcia walk, Steckenrider yielded an RBI double and single to Kole Calhoun and Nathaniel Lowe which turned out to be the difference in the game. Steckenrider's stumble was his first of the season, as he'd opened the campaign with five scoreless appearances while recording a pair of holds and a save.
Steckenrider recorded his second hold in a win over the Rangers on Tuesday, firing a scoreless seventh inning in which he allowed a hit.
Steckenrider tossed 10 of his 13 pitches for strikes in a sharp performance, one that netted his second hold in the last three appearances. The veteran right-hander is yet to be scored upon in five trips to the mound and has also contributed one save, and he should continue to see opportunities for both holds and ninth-inning work with the Mariners treating their closer situation as a relatively fluid one.
