After strong outing, Mariners’ Casey Lawrence DFA’d for 5th time in ’25

Casey Lawrence did what the Seattle Mariners asked of him Tuesday. Unfortunately, that means he’s once again been designated for assignment.

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A day after the 37-year-old right-hander pitched five innings of one-run ball in long relief against the Chicago White Sox, the Mariners DFA’d Lawrence for the fourth time this year to make room for veteran reliever Jesse Hahn in their bullpen.

It’s actually the fifth time this season that Lawrence has been DFA’d – in addition to the four times by Seattle, there was another earlier this month by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Lawrence’s situation is a result of his role and experience. He tends to be used in the big leagues when a team needs someone to throw multiple innings out of the bullpen, so after he has pitched, he is typically unavailable for a time. When the team adds another arm to take his place on the roster, Lawrence can’t be sent directly to Triple-A because he has no remaining minor league options, so he is then designated for assignment, after which he needs to clear waivers to be assigned to the minors. But even if that happens, he is able to elect free agency rather than accept a minor league assignment.

So far this season, Lawrence has cleared waivers and then re-signed with the Mariners on a minor league deal three times, with the other time resulting in him being claimed by the Blue Jays.

Lawrence has pitched in the big leagues for three teams: Toronto (2017, 2022, 2025), Seattle (2017, 2018, 2025) and St. Louis (2023). This year he has appeared in six MLB games, allowing eight earned runs over 17 2/3 innings. He’s been pretty good for Seattle specifically, running a 3.00 ERA (five earned runs in 15 innings) in five games.

Lawrence has also pitched four games for Triple-A Tacoma this year.

Hahn, 35, returns to the Mariners for a second time this year. He’s allowed just one unearned run over two outings (four innings) for Seattle in 2025. Before this season, he last pitched in the big leagues in 2021. He debuted in 2014 with San Diego, and also spent time with the Athletics (2015-17) and Royals (2019-21).

With Tacoma this season, Hahn has allowed just one unearned run over five appearances (five innings). So in total, he has a combined 0.00 ERA this year.

Hahn is in essentially the same position as Lawrence. He has been granted free agency by the Mariners twice this year and returned both times on a minor league contract.

The AL West-leading Mariners are set for an 11:10 a.m. series finale Wednesday against the White Sox, though the weather in Chicago means a second rain delay in as many days is possible. Radio coverage on Seattle Sports begins at 10 a.m. with the pregame show.

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