Roster Moves: M’s place Carlos Vargas on IL, call up reliever

The Seattle Mariners placed right-handed reliver Carlos Vargas on the 15-day injured list with right lat strain on Friday. The move is retroactive to March 24, meaning he will be eligible to return on April 7.

Mariners’ next 3 games are on 3 different TV platforms

In a corresponding move, the team called up right-hander Cole Wilcox.

Vargas, 26, was one of Seattle’s most-used relievers last season. The 6-foot-4 righty made 70 appearances, posting a 3.97 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 5-5 record with 54 strikeouts and 23 walks allowed over 77 innings. He picked up his first career save on March 6.

Vargas was second among M’s relievers in innings pitched and third in appearances. He also threw the eighth-most innings among relievers league-wide.

He pitched 8 1/3 innings in nine appearances during spring training, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and three walks while striking out six.

Wilcox, 26, has appeared in one game as a big leaguer, which came last September while pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays. He allowed seven runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks against the Boston Red Sox.

The Mariners acquired Wilcox in a trade with the Rays on Nov. 5, 2025, in exchange for cash considerations. He made eight appearances during spring training,  posting a 4.32 ERA with four runs, six hits and four walks allowed over 8 1/3 innings. He struck out 11 batters while holding them to a .200 average.

The Mariners face the Cleveland Guardians in their second game of the season at 6:45 p.m. on Friday night. Radio coverage can be heard on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app starting with the pregame show at 6 p.m.

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