Mariners reinforce bullpen, acquire left-handed reliever in trade with Pirates
The Seattle Mariners acquired left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon, bolstering their bullpen ahead of Thursday’s MLB trade deadline.
Ferguson, 29, is 2-2 with a 3.74 ERA since signing a one-year contract with the Pirates in January. One of the league’s best at inducing soft contact this year — his hard-hit percentage (25.2) and average exit velocity (83.5 miles per hour) both rank in MLB’s 100th percentile, per Statcast — Ferguson has allowed only one home run in 43.1 innings pitched.
“We are excited to add Caleb and fortify our bullpen down the stretch,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “He’s been one of the most reliable left-handed relievers in the game and adds postseason experience to our group.”
Ferguson becomes just the second southpaw on Seattle’s active roster (Gabe Speier), on pace for the most-productive season of his career by WAR (0.6). A seven-year veteran of four major league clubs, Ferguson debuted for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 and struck out a career-high 70 batters in 2023.
And should the Mariners return to the playoffs, Seattle’s newest lefty has proven ready for the moment: In nine career postseason appearances, Ferguson has thrown 5.2 hitless innings with two walks and five strikeouts. He is one of four relievers in MLB history without a hit allowed in five-plus career postseason innings, joining Trevor Stephan, Brad Boxberger, and Carlos Villanueva, per Mariners PR.
The Mariners dealt 19-year-old right-hander Jeter Martinez to the Pirates in a player swap, the club’s No. 13 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline. An international signing by the Mariners in 2023, Martinez went 2-6 with a 6.18 ERA (60 K, 38 BB) in 62.2 innings for Single-A Modesto in 2025.
In a corresponding move, the Mariners reinstated right-handed reliever Collin Snider (right forearm flexor strain) from the 15-day injured list and designated the 29-year-old for assignment.
Ferguson enters free agency after the 2025 season.
