Mariners reportedly add MLB veteran on minor league deal

The Seattle Mariners are reportedly bringing in MLB veteran right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning on a minor league contract, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com.

AL West: Texas Rangers trade five prospects for All-Star pitcher

Dunning, 31, will be familiar to Mariners fans as a former longtime member of the starting rotation for the AL West rival Texas Rangers. Dunning made 95 starts and appeared in 122 games total for the Rangers from 2021 to 2025.

Last season, Dunning had a 6.97 ERA combined over 12 relief appearances between the Rangers and Atlanta Braves.

Dunning’s best season was 2023 when he finished 12-7 with a 3.70 ERA in 35 games in the regular season, including 26 starts. He also pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings over three relief appearances in the World Series to help Texas win its first championship.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Dunning started to split time between starting and relieving in 2023, and exclusively pitched out of the bullpen while in the big leagues in 2025. But he spent the majority of last season in Triple-A, starting 14 of the 18 games he appeared in.

The Washington Nationals selected Dunning No. 29 overall in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida. He was quickly traded to the White Sox in December 2016, and was a highly-ranked prospect for Chicago leading up to his MLB debut in 2020.

Dunning was traded by the White Sox along with a prospect to the Rangers in December 2020 for former All-Star pitcher Lance Lynn, and was dealt by Texas last July to Atlanta for pitcher José Ruiz and cash.

Seattle Mariners offseason coverage

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• Mariners agree on ’26 contract with Bryce Miller, avoiding arbitration
• Mariners have high hopes for new reliever Jose Ferrer
• Seattle Mariners add righty reliever from Cincinnati Reds

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