The Veteran’s attempt to secure a spot in the Seattle Mariners bullpen has officially come to an end. The team released the veteran left-hander on Sunday, making him a free agent once again. Despite showing flashes of promise with 10 strikeouts over 7⅔ innings during spring training, Pomeranz was unable to earn a role on Seattle’s pitching staff.
The 36-year-old southpaw signed a minor league contract with the Mariners in November, hoping to resurrect his career after an extended absence from the major leagues. He last pitched in an MLB game in 2021 due to a series of injuries but made a brief return to the mound in 2024, logging nine innings with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate.
A former first-round pick, Pomeranz has had a career full of ups and downs. He spent three seasons with the Boston Red Sox, including the team’s historic 2018 campaign in which they won a franchise-record 108 games and went on to win the World Series. However, he did not make an appearance in the postseason that year.
His career took another turn in 2019 when he struggled with the San Francisco Giants, leading to a midseason trade to the Milwaukee Brewers. The move proved to be a turning point, as he thrived in the bullpen, posting a stellar 2.39 ERA and a dominant 45% strikeout rate over 25 games.
That performance earned him a lucrative four-year deal with the San Diego Padres ahead of the 2020 season. Unfortunately, injuries continued to plague him, limiting him to just 47 appearances over the course of the contract. He missed the entire 2022 season and has since been working toward a return to the big leagues.
Now, with his tenure in Seattle cut short, it remains to be seen whether any teams will take a chance on the 11-year veteran as he seeks to extend his professional career.
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