BREAKING: Mariners use waiver claim shocking trade to strengthen their bullpen.

The Seattle Mariners have bolstered their struggling bullpen in the last 24 hours. On Wednesday, they acquired right-handed pitcher Mike Baumann and veteran catcher Michael Peréz from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league catcher Blake Hunt. Additionally, after Thursday’s game, Seattle announced they claimed right-handed pitcher Eduardo Salazar off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers, making room on the 40-man roster by designating minor league left-handed pitcher Sammy Peralta for assignment.

Baumann is the most notable of the new additions. He faced the Mariners twice before, once last week and once last August, and made his debut for Seattle in a 5-0 loss to the New York Yankees. The 28-year-old progressed through the minors as a starter but debuted in the majors as a long reliever for the 2021 Orioles, who lost 110 games that season. Although Baumann initially had four pitches, he now mainly uses two or three, with his best being a knuckle-curve with significant vertical drop.

In his 94 major league appearances spanning 127.1 innings, Baumann has shown potential with his upper-90s fastball and spin control, though his command has been inconsistent. Seattle hopes to refine his skills to maximize his effectiveness, even if his primary role has been to cover innings.

Joining Baumann in the Mariners’ bullpen is Salazar, a 26-year-old Venezuelan with 14.1 major league innings over the past two seasons. Originally with the Cincinnati Reds, he signed with the Dodgers as a minor league free agent last winter. Salazar, a groundball pitcher, struggled in Triple-A Oklahoma City due to a lack of strikeouts but has been adjusting his delivery to improve command. He primarily throws sliders and fastballs, with both pitches showing enough downward movement to potentially induce double plays. However, he has not been particularly effective since High-A, making his acquisition somewhat puzzling without a change in his pitching style.

Finally, Pérez, a veteran catcher, joins from the Orioles. He developed with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays and has since played 202 major league games with the Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Mets. Pérez will replace Hunt in Triple-A Tacoma, while Hunt moves to Triple-A Norfolk. Pérez has not played in the majors in 2024 due to his limited hitting ability. Sammy Peralta, designated for assignment to make room for Salazar, has struggled in Triple-A Tacoma and is likely to clear waivers.