The Mariners signed veteran right-handed reliever Bryan Shaw to a minor league deal yesterday. The workforce by no means formally introduced it, however Shaw’s signing seems on their transaction log at MLB.com and the righty pitched in final evening’s recreation for Triple-A Tacoma.
Shaw’s return to the Mariners group — he additionally pitched for Seattle in 2020 — didn’t go notably effectively. He retired solely one of many 5 batters he confronted, permitting successful and three walks (one intentional) to the others. The 37-year-old right-hander had beforehand yielded 5 earned runs in 1 2/3 innings for the Reds’ high affiliate in Louisville earlier than being reduce unfastened.
Shaw pitched solely 4 large league innings final 12 months, his fewest single-season complete since making his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks in 2011. It’s been a number of years since his peak as an iron man in Cleveland’s bullpen, however the well-traveled Shaw was an efficient center reliever as just lately as 2023 with the White Sox. He tossed 45 2/3 innings that 12 months and recorded a good 4.14 ERA with a 21.1% strikeout charge and eight.9% stroll charge.
From 2013-17, Shaw tied lefty Tony Watson for the MLB lead amongst relievers at 358 2/3 innings. Shaw’s 378 complete appearances throughout that point have been by far probably the most in MLB. He wasn’t only a rubber arm, both; in these 358 2/3 innings, Shaw logged a 3.11 ERA and ranked third amongst all relievers with 110 holds (along with 9 rogue saves). He’s had extra shaky seasons than good ones within the time since that peak run. It appears truthful to presume that Shaw’s practically unequalled workload took some toll on his arm, however it’s price noting that he nonetheless has just one look on the MLB injured listing in his complete profession: a three-week stint resulting from a calf pressure with the Rockies in 2018.