Mariners DFA Mark Rzepczynski, call up Roenis Elias
The Mariners announced today that they have designated southpaw Marc Rzepczynski for assignment. His MLB roster spot will go to fellow lefty Roenis Elias, who has been recalled from Triple-A. Rzepczynski, 32, had signed a two-year deal with the Seattle organization before the 2017 season. He’s earning $5.5MM this season under that contract. The signing has not really turned out as hoped. Like most of his prior employers, the M’s have tried to limit Rzepczynski to facing left-handed hitters. Rzepczynski is a 10-year Major League veteran who has pitched for the Blue Jays, Cardinals, Indians, Padres, A's, Nationals and Mariners, and he owns a career 3.92 ERA. His 501 MLB appearances are the fifth most among active left-handed relievers. Seattle now has seven days to trade, release or outright Rzepczynski's contract to the Minor Leagues. His departure opens a spot on the 40-man roster, which now is at 39. James Pazos had replaced Rzepczynski as the club's late-inning left-handed setup man in recent weeks, and Elias now will fill the second lefty spot in the bullpen, with the ability to pitch longer outings as a converted starter. Elias, 29, went 2-4 with a 4.94 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 12 walks in 31 innings over seven games, including six starts, for Tacoma. In his last outing on Wednesday at Las Vegas, he tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out three. Prior to being acquired by the Mariners, Elias was 1-0 with one save and a 1.23 ERA with nine strikeouts and two walks in 7 1/3 innings in four games as a reliever for Triple-A Pawtucket. Elias was a starter in Seattle in 2014-15 before being traded to Boston. But he spent most of 2017 on the disabled list while dealing with a strained oblique, and the Red Sox traded him back to the Mariners this year for cash or a player to be named.
