Mariners make roster move to replenish bullpen

One day after a marathon afternoon for the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen, the club added a reinforcement ahead of Saturday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.

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The Mariners selected right-handed reliever Jesse Hahn from Triple-A Tacoma and optioned lefty reliever Tayler Saucedo to Tacoma in a corresponding move. Seattle also designated right-handed reliever Cody Bolton for assignment.

The moves come after the Mariners used all eight relievers in their bullpen during Friday’s wild 10-9 walkoff loss to the Giants in 11 innings. Seattle’s bullpen threw 167 pitches over 7 2/3 innings after fill-in starter Luis F. Castillo lasted just three innings.

It continued a taxing week for the Mariners’ bullpen, which also threw 143 pitches over 8 1/3 innings this past Monday after starter Emerson Hancock gave up six runs in two-thirds of an inning. Hancock was optioned to Tacoma the following day and Castillo was later brought up to fill his spot in the rotation for Friday’s game.

Hahn, 35, hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since April 2021 with the Kansas City Royals. He missed the 2022 and 2023 seasons with right shoulder impingement syndrome and then spent most of 2024 in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

After being released by the Dodgers last August, Hahn signed with the Mariners in early September and pitched for Tacoma. He then re-signed with Seattle prior to this season.

Hahn has a 4.22 ERA in 311 1/3 innings at the major league level, with 50 career starts and 32 relief appearances. He tossed a scoreless inning for Triple-A Tacoma on March 30.

Saucedo has had a rocky start to the year, allowing four runs, seven hits and three walks across 2 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old Tahoma High School alum pitched one-third of an inning in Friday’s loss, allowing two runs and two hits.

The Mariners acquired the 26-year-old Bolton from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations in November 2023. He split last season between Seattle and Triple-A Tacoma. Over 18 2/3 innings with the Mariners last year, he posted a 4.34 ERA with 17 strikeouts and nine walks. He began this season in Tacoma, where he allowed two earned runs, three hits and three walks in two innings of relief.

The Mariners face their third consecutive Cy Young Award winner on Saturday night when they go against left-hander Robbie Ray, who spent the 2022 season with Seattle before suffering a season-ending injury in the opening week of 2023 that required Tommy John surgery.

The Mariners beat reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday before facing three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander in Friday’s loss to the Giants.

First pitch for Saturday night’s game is at 6:05 p.m. Radio coverage begins with the pregame show at 5 p.m. on Seattle Sports 710 AM, the Seattle Sports app and SeattleSports.com.

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