Have the Mariners found their next out-of-nowhere success story in the bullpen?
With a recent track record of turning hidden gems into bullpen gold — Paul Sewald, Justin Topa, Gabe Speier, to name a few — the Mariners have taken a similar low-risk approach in acquiring right-handed reliever Hagen Danner on a waiver claim from the Toronto Blue Jays.
It’s not the major move for which fans have been clamoring, but the Mariners did end weeks of inactivity with the addition of Danner, a 26-year-old converted catcher.
It’s just the Mariners’ third addition to their 40-man roster this offseason, and first since claiming catcher Nick Raposo off waivers from Toronto on Dec. 19.
The club’s only other move this offseason was a minor trade for backup infielder Austin Shenton from Tampa Bay on Nov. 19.
The Blue Jays had designated Danner for assignment on Dec. 20.
Danner, listed at 6-feet-1 and 215 pounds, was drafted in the second round of the 2017 draft as a catcher out of Huntington Beach (Calif.) High.
He transition to pitcher during the 2020 COVID season, and made his first minor-league appearance on the mound in 2021, appearing in 25 games for the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League.
He made one major-league appearance with the Blue Jays in 2023, recording an out against the only batter he faced.
Injuries have limited him to just 78.1 innings over the past three seasons.
In 2024, he made 34 appearances between Triple-A Buffalo (33 games) and Class-A Dunedin (one game) in the Blue Jays organization, going 3-0 with a 3.06 ERA with 13 walks and 36 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.
He has a four-seam fastball that has touched 98 mph — and averaged 95.7 mph in 2024, per FanGraphs — and a slider that’s considered his best pitch.
He has one minor-league option remaining.
The Mariners’ 40-man roster now stands at 39.
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