Mariners outright Erasmo Ramirez and Nick Vincent, who elect free agency

The paring of the Mariners roster continued Friday with the team announcing Erasmo Ramirez and Nick Vincent had cleared waivers and been outrighted from the 40-man roster. Both players have elected free agency. Catcher Chris Herman was placed on waivers and claimed by the Houston Astros.

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Ramirez, who was penciled in to a starting spot heading into last season, spent the majority of  2018 on the disabled list dealing with a right Teres Major strain and right shoulder lat strain. He went 2-4 with a 6.50 ERA in 10 starts. Entering his final year of arbitration eligibility, mlbtraderumors.com estimated him to earn $4.4 million in arbitration salary in the upcoming season — a $200,000 bump from last year.

Vincent, who the Mariners acquired for cash from the San Diego Padres just prior to the 2016 season, is also in his final year of arbitration eligibility. He appeared in over 60 games in each of his three years with the Mariners, accumulating a 3.62 ERA. With a projected $3.5 million arbitration salary and what Jerry Dipoto sees as comfortable mid-relief depth, that price tag was likely determined to be too high.

The Mariners entered the off season with nine arbitration-eligible players. Today’s moves — along with relievers Ryan Cook and Justin Grimm being outrighted to Tacoma earlier in the week — leave James Paxton, Mike Zunino, Roenis Elias, and Alex Colome as the remaining arbitration-eligible players. The deadline for teams to non-tender players is November 30.

With the moves today, the Mariners 40-man roster is at 32.

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