Seattle Mariners: What to Make of Ryan Weber’s Addition
By Paul Taylor
The Seattle Mariners made several roster moves on Wednesday, including claiming Ryan Weber off waivers, but what does the pitcher bring to the team?
With the offseason now officially underway, the Seattle Mariners announced six roster moves on Wednesday. These included the unsurprising decision to outright catcher Steve Clevenger to Class AAA Tacoma.
It was also confirmed that pitcher Adrian Sampson had been lost on waivers, to the Texas Rangers. However, the move which received most interest was the lone addition to the Mariners’ 40-man roster, Ryan Weber.
Understandably, a lot of fans will be wondering what Weber brings to Seattle. In theory, he provides depth for both the rotation and the bullpen, but is he actually any good?
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In truth, at this point the jury is still out. However, the pitcher has had his moments, since first entering the Majors last year with the Atlanta Braves.
Weber made his debut on September 8th 2015 with a start against the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing two runs and four hits in six innings. However, it was his final game last season when he first really served notice, with 10 strikeouts and just one run, in seven innings of action against the Washington Nationals.
The 2016 campaign started terribly for the 2009 22nd round draft pick, as he had a horrific 10.57 ERA during 7.2 innings of action in April. However, he did manage to turn things around after this, helped by a 1.64 in six appearances during August.
Overall, Weber made 16 appearances (including two starts) for the Braves, pitching 36.1 innings, while recording a 5.45 ERA and 23 strikeouts. Most impressively, he allowed just five walks and had an extremely solid 50.8 percent ground-ball rate.
The rest of this past season saw the St. Petersburg, Florida native ply his trade in Triple-A Gwinnett, where he was much more effective. In 26 appearances (including five starts), he pitched 62.0 innings, recorded 41 strikeouts and an excellent 2.76 ERA, while allowing just one home run.
Overall, perhaps the best way to sum Weber up is as a solid, versatile pitcher, who relies a lot on his sinker. Assuming he is not removed from the 40-man roster during the winter, there is little pressure for him to break camp with the Mariners next spring, due to still having a minor league option.
Next: Should the Mariners re-sign Dae-Ho Lee?
What’s your take on the Mariners claiming Weber off waivers? Are you intrigued by the addition, underwhelmed or not bothered either way? Let us know in the comments section below.