Mariners officially release LHP Marc Rzepczynski
Jun 6, 2018, 12:15 PM
Marc Rzepczynski has been released five days after being DFA'd by the Mariners. (AP)
(AP)
Marc Rzepczynski is officially a free agent.
The veteran left-handed relief specialist was released by the Mariners on Wednesday, five days after Seattle designated him for assignment.
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The Mariners released Rzepczynski after no teams claimed him, which means they will have to pay the remainder of his contract. Seattle signed Rzepczynski to a two-year, $11 million deal prior to the 2017 season.
While Rzepczynski had a respectable 2017 campaign, 2018 was a struggle for the southpaw. He went 0-1 with a 9.39 ERA, 10 strikeouts and nine walks in 18 relief appearances (7 2/3 innings) before last Friday’s DFA. Last year, he was 2-2 with one save and a 4.02 ERA (31 1/3 innings) with 25 strikeouts and 20 walks in 64 relief appearances.
It likely won’t be long before the 32-year-old Rzepczynski lands with another MLB franchise. He has played in the majors for 10 seasons and had some especially productive seasons in 2014 (73 appearances, 2.74 ERA for Cleveland) and 2016 (70 appearances, 2.64 ERA for Oakland and Washington).
The Mariners called up lefty Roenis Elias to take Rzepczynski’s spot in the bullpen last week.
