Ex-Mariner Marco Gonzales signs minors deal with AL West rival

Former Seattle Mariners left-hander Marco Gonzales’ journey through professional baseball has led him back to an American League West organization.

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The Texas Rangers signed the 34-year-old Gonzales to a minor league contract on Tuesday.

The new deal immediately brought the Gonzaga University product back to the Pacific Northwest, as he made his debut with Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday night against the Tacoma Rainiers at Cheney Stadium. The left-hander allowed three runs over four innings.

A first-round pick in the 2013 draft, Gonzales pitched in seven seasons for the Mariners from 2017-23 and was the club’s opening day starter from 2019-21. In 151 outings (148 starts) with Seattle, he compiled a 61-47 record with a 4.08 ERA over 852 1/3 innings.

Gonzales was traded to the Atlanta Braves in a multi-player deal after the 2023 season. He was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates two days later.

Gonzales last pitched in the majors for the Pirates in 2024, posting a 4.54 ERA in 33 2/3 innings over seven starts. His year was cut short by a left forearm strain that eventually required flexor tendon surgery and wiped out his 2025 season as well.

Gonzales started his attempt at a comeback to the majors when he signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres at the beginning of spring training. After pitching in 13 games with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, he was released on June 16.

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