Mariners Get Matt Wisler

Matt Wisler is on the move this Fourth of July.

Today, the Mariners announced that they have acquired right-hander Matt Wisler from the Padres in exchange for cash considerations. With Seattle having an open 40-man roster spot on their team, it won't be necessary for them to make a corresponding DFA or 60-day IL placement. San Diego had recently designated Wisler for assignment last week.

Despite Wisler still being only 26, he has yet to find any footing at the MLB level, and he was a highly touted prospect when he first came into the league. Since then, he has shifted to a full-time relief role. His numbers aren't that great, though. He has a 5.28 ERA and has allowed five home runs in the last 29 innings of work. However, there is some reason for being optimistic about Wisler. He is striking out a career-best 26.4 percent of opponents, there is a 15.6 percent swinging-strike rate and a 35.1 percent opponents' chase rate, which is telling because when batters are not blasting his pitches out of the park, he's getting a very high strike rate on them.

The problem with Wisler's numbers is that opponents are batting .291/.344/.479 against him in 2019. So with those results, it may be time for a new environment and perhaps the Padres understood that more than most. However, it remains to be seen if that will be the case for Wisler.

As for the Mariners, at least they get another fresh arm in the bullpen. Wisler is out of minor league options with the Padres at this point, and the Mariners are looking to rebuild their team, so this move makes sense. Right now, though, he has to improve his arm at the major league level or he'll be designated for assignment and most likely sent back to Triple-A. That's not something that he would be in favor of, considering his potential and why he was such a premier prospect coming into the Major League levels.