Justin Topa is back in the big leagues, and the setting makes it feel even stranger than usual.
For Mariners fans, Topa still carries the memory of 2023, when he was arguably Seattle’s best reliever. For Yankees fans, though, his name landed with more confusion than excitement after Joel Sherman reported that he was being called up. In a season already defined by injuries, especially on the pitching side, New York’s latest move only deepened the sense that something else has gone wrong.
The Yankees are leaning on a bullpen that has been excellent by the numbers - second in the majors with a 2.97 ERA - but the group is clearly stretched thin. That’s the backdrop for Topa’s arrival, and it’s a very different version of him than the one Seattle knew.
In 2023, Topa posted a 2.61 ERA across 75 relief appearances and led all Mariners relievers with a career-high 1.6 bWAR. This season has been far messier. At the major league level, he has an 8.05 ERA in 23 games, all with the Twins.
There has been some encouragement in the minors. Topa put together a 1.75 ERA in 24 Triple-A appearances for three teams, and since signing with the Yankees on Aug. 14, he has recorded a 1.80 ERA in five outings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Still, the numbers that matter most for a reliever raise questions. Topa’s strikeout rate has hovered around 13 percent this year, whether he has been pitching in the majors or minors. His sinker, which sat at 95 mph during his best season in 2023, dropped to 93.4 mph earlier this year with Minnesota.
There are a couple of encouraging signs. He has an 8% walk-rate and a 45.9% ground-ball rate, both better than average. But even those stats come with the obvious question of how they will hold up once he’s back against major league hitters in New York.
There’s also a certain irony in all of this. The Yankees, battered by pitching injuries, are turning to a 35-year-old reliever who has had injury issues of his own over seven major league seasons.
Topa may not be in the Bronx for long. Because he can’t be optioned, a rough stretch would leave the Yankees with little choice but to designate him for assignment, which could mean a fourth team this year. For now, though, he gets another shot - and Mariners fans will likely be watching with a mix of nostalgia and support, even if he’s doing it in pinstripes.
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Mariners May Need An Old Pitching Fix To Solve A New Problem
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For a club trying to balance immediate innings with long-term health, the appeal is obvious, especially with Miller potentially dealing with the effects of a minor lat issue. The Mariners have not committed to reviving the arrangement, but they also have not shut the door on it, which leaves this as one of those watch-this-space decisions that could shape how they manage the rotation in the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]