Mariners bet on future assets by adding 4 prospects to the 40-man roster

The Mariners added 4 gamers to their 40-man roster on Tuesday prematurely of subsequent month’s Rule 5 draft on the Winter Conferences in San Diego.

Seattle added right-handed pitchers Prelander Berroa and Isaiah Campbell and outfielders Jonatan Clase and Cade Marlowe. The Mariners’ 40-man roster is now at 40 gamers.

Not one of the additions to the Mariners’ roster got here as a lot of a shock, although the membership did resolve to go away first baseman Robert Perez Jr. — who was into consideration to be added to the 40-man roster — unprotected.

What’s the Rule 5 draft? Right here’s an amazing primer by The Athletic’s Melissa Lockard.

Nonetheless, powerful choices aren’t a foul downside to have, because it reveals the power of the group’s expertise — even after a yr the place the workforce moved a handful of notable prospects in trades and graduated a couple of others to the big-league roster.

Right here’s a breakdown of the 4 gamers the Mariners added to the roster on Tuesday:

RHP Prelander Berroa

2022 stats: 4-3 with a 2.86 ERA in 100 2/3 innings in three stops.

Berroa, 22, was acquired from the Giants on Might 11 for infielder Donovan Walton, as San Francisco sought assist after Tommy La Stella landed on the injured listing. Walton had turn into one thing of a metrics darling in some circles, as a few of his peripherals popped off the charts. And whereas he could have appeared like a utility man to the bare eye, his profile prompt there may be extra efficiency coming. ZiPS even projected him to have a 1.7 WAR earlier than final season.

Anyway, Walton was roadblocked in Seattle and the Mariners did him a favor by transferring him. Seattle had requested about Berroa up to now however was rebuffed. This time, although, the commerce lined up and this one has the potential to look superb for the Mariners down the highway. Berroa has an elite fastball that may contact 100 mph with spectacular vertical motion. The slider is 88-91 mph and in addition has massive motion. Berroa has been utilizing a changeup from time to time and began getting a greater really feel for it late within the season.

Berroa, who received’t flip 23 till April, can run into some command points at instances. His future may ultimately be pitching on the again finish of the bullpen, however Seattle doesn’t have to make that decision anytime quickly. For now, he’s definitely a viable starter with swing-and-miss stuff (150 strikeouts in 100 2/3 innings). Berroa will doubtless begin 2023 the place he ended 2022, again within the Double-A Texas League.

RHP Isaiah Campbell

2022 stats: Posted a 1.56 ERA in 46 innings in two stops, placing out 59.

Campbell logged plenty of innings in his ultimate yr on the College of Arkansas and didn’t pitch with the Mariners after signing in 2019. After the misplaced yr of 2020, he was restricted to simply 19 1/3 innings in 2021 and he had a clean-up surgical procedure on his proper elbow to take away bone spurs. He was wholesome in 2022 and confirmed plenty of the promise that led the Mariners to draft him within the second spherical.

Campbell started the season with Excessive-A Everett as a starter however was transitioned to the bullpen in June, a transfer the Mariners suppose will repay for them and Campbell transferring ahead. Popping out of the bullpen, Campbell had a 1.61 ERA in 29 reduction outings with 44 strikeouts in 28 innings. He can deploy his slider — which he had elite command of — and his 95-98 mph fastball on the high of the zone with out having to fret a few third pitch.

Campbell completed the season with Double-A Arkansas and didn’t enable a run in his ultimate seven appearances. He may begin there once more in 2023 however don’t be in any respect shocked if he strikes quick.

OF Jonatan Clase

2022 stats: Hit .267 with 13 house runs (and 11 triples), 49 RBIs and 55 steals at Low-A Modesto.

Seattle felt Clase, who received’t flip 21 till Might, was price defending somewhat than run the danger of a workforce taking a flyer on him within the Rule 5 draft. It’s not an terrible thought, contemplating he may have spent 2023 within the massive leagues for a non-contending workforce as a pinch-runner, a defensive alternative and somebody with the possibility to get sporadic at-bats earlier than heading again to the minors in 2024 at age 22.

Clase’s calling card is, surely, his plus-speed, however his bat confirmed loads of promise (117 wRC+) within the California League, even when he ran a 27 % strikeout fee (commonplace for younger gamers). His strike-zone recognition was fairly good as properly, as he had a 13 % stroll fee.

Clase ought to begin the 2023 season with Excessive-A Everett, the place he’ll in all probability be one of many youngest gamers within the league. Clase is a switch-hitter who’s a lot better from the left aspect. He’s improved his power annually within the Mariners’ system with out sacrificing a lot, if any, of his velocity.

OF Cade Marlowe

2022 stats: Hit .287 with 23 house runs and 102 RBIs in two stops.

Marlowe is one intriguing dude. He has knocked in over 100 runs in every of the final two seasons, has plus-speed (42 steals in 2022) and may go get a ball within the outfield. Oh, and he hits left-handed.

The Mariners thought so extremely of Marlowe they added him to their taxi roster for the postseason and almost moved him to the energetic roster.

Marlowe can also be 25. He was a four-year faculty draftee after his time on the College of West Georgia, the place he was a pre-med/biology main with a 3.87 grade-point common. That’s one thing you don’t see daily.

At any fee, Marlowe has gotten stronger since being drafted within the twentieth spherical of the 2019 draft with out dropping any of his velocity. He profiles finest as a fourth outfielder and might need a shot to crack the big-league roster this spring relying on what the Mariners do that winter.

“Cade is a multi-talented participant with nice make-up,” stated Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto. “He can play all three outfield spots, he can run, he’s a great base stealer, he can defend. And he’s received energy and controls the strike zone.

“From the second he’s stepped on the sphere for us within the minor leagues, he’s blown it up.”

(Picture of Cade Marlowe: Courtesy of the Everett Aqua Sox)