Mariners acquire one former Blue Jay, DFA another in series of moves

On Thursday it was announced that Seattle had acquired relief pitcher Yosver Zulueta from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for minor league arm Dusty Revis.

The move came just hours after Zulu had been designated for assignment by Cincinnati - who also recently signed Zulu's former minor-league teammate - following their signing of pitcher Pierce Johnson.

Although Zulueta is 28, he has limited big league experience, having pitched just 23 2/3 innings in 19 games over the past two seasons in Cincy.

The Reds initially picked up the Cuban on a waiver claim shortly before the 2024 season after he had been DFA'd by the Blue Jays.

Toronto had initially signed him as an international free agent out of Cuba back in the summer of 2019.

After spending 2020 recovering from Tommy John surgery, he finally made his professional debut with Single-A Dunedin in 2021. Zulu worked his way up to Triple-A Buffalo before Toronto cut ties.

In a twist of fate, to make room for Zulueta on their 40-man roster, the Mariners DFA'd outfielder Samad Taylor, another one-time Blue Jays farmhand.

Like Zulueta, Taylor has limited big league experience. After the Blue Jays sent him to Kansas City as part of a package for Whit Merrifield he made his debut in 2023. He was then dealt to the Mariners prior to 2024.

All told, he has 38 games of big league experience across parts of three seasons.

With Zulueta now in the fold, the Mariners will add him to the competition to the bullpen once Spring Training starts next month.

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