The Seattle Mariners made a series of moves on Thursday that, while not headline-grabbing in the way a blockbuster trade might be, fit squarely into the blueprint this front office has leaned on for years: find under-the-radar arms with upside, make tough roster decisions when needed, and invest heavily in international talent to keep the pipeline flowing.
Let’s break it down.
Mariners Trade for Yosver Zulueta: Another Power Arm for the Pitching Lab
Seattle acquired right-hander Yosver Zulueta from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for minor league pitcher Dusty Revis. On the surface, it’s a trade that might not raise eyebrows - unless you’ve been paying attention to how the Mariners build bullpens.
Zulueta brings a power profile that fits the Mariners’ mold: high-velocity fastball, swing-and-miss stuff, and just enough control issues to make him a project. In limited MLB action (23.2 innings over the last two seasons), he’s posted a 24.8% strikeout rate, a 10.9% walk rate, and a 54% ground-ball rate - all while carrying a 5.32 ERA. That last number isn’t pretty, but the underlying metrics are what Seattle seems to be betting on.
And here’s where the Mariners’ reputation for pitcher development comes into play. This is an organization that’s made a habit of turning raw, live arms into usable - and sometimes dominant - bullpen pieces.
Zulueta’s Triple-A numbers last year back up the intrigue: a 3.28 ERA, 31.2% strikeout rate, and yes, still a 12.8% walk rate. He’s not a finished product, but the ingredients are there.
Think of it this way: the Mariners aren’t necessarily looking for perfect pitchers. They’re looking for moldable ones. Zulueta fits that profile to a tee.
Samad Taylor DFA: A Roster Casualty That Was Hard to Avoid
To make room for Zulueta on the 40-man roster, the Mariners designated utility man Samad Taylor for assignment - a move that feels more inevitable than surprising.
Taylor has value. He’s versatile, can play multiple positions, runs well, and has a solid track record of getting on base in the minors.
His 2025 season at Triple-A Tacoma was impressive: a .296/.378/.461 slash line with 44 stolen bases. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed.
But here’s the catch: Taylor is out of minor league options. And in a roster crunch, teams often have to make decisions based not just on talent, but on flexibility. The Mariners clearly didn’t see him as a lock to make the Opening Day bench, and without the ability to stash him in Triple-A, the move became a numbers game.
He’s the kind of player who should draw interest elsewhere - a depth piece who can contribute in the right situation. But in Seattle, the fit just wasn’t there anymore.
International Signings Bring Athleticism and Upside to the Farm
The most forward-looking move of the day came in the form of five international signings, headlined by outfielders Juan Rijo and Gregory Pio, and infielder Leonardo Reynoso. Outfielders Jarvis Gomez and Ambeiro Recio round out the class.
Let’s start with the headliners.
Juan Rijo, ranked No. 12 on MLB Pipeline’s international prospect list, comes with polish and maturity. The Mariners have called him “uniquely advanced,” which is high praise in the international market, where projection often outweighs production. Rijo looks like the kind of player who could move quickly through the system if the tools translate.
Gregory Pio, ranked No. 32, is more of a ceiling play. Scouts rave about his athleticism, speed, defense, and raw strength.
He’s not as refined as Rijo, but the upside is substantial. If the Mariners’ development staff can tap into that potential, Pio could emerge as a legitimate outfield prospect down the line.
Leonardo Reynoso (No. 48) adds infield depth to the class, while Gomez and Recio are the kind of high-upside athletes that Seattle loves to bet on. Gomez is reportedly a premium athlete with speed and arm strength, while Recio’s standout tool is his raw power.
The financial investment tells the story: Rijo signed for $2.2 million, Pio for $2.9 million, and Reynoso for $750,000. That’s a significant chunk of Seattle’s $7.36 million international bonus pool, and it signals a clear commitment to restocking the farm with high-upside talent.
The Big Picture: Building from the Ground Up
None of these moves will dominate the offseason headlines. They don’t change the Opening Day lineup or shift the balance of power in the AL West. But they do reflect a consistent philosophy: build pitching depth, invest in athleticism, and trust the development system to do its job.
Zulueta is a classic Mariners project - a live arm with flaws that can be fixed. Taylor’s DFA is a reminder of how unforgiving roster math can be.
And the international class? That’s a bet on the future, a calculated swing at building the next wave of talent that could either help in Seattle or bring back value via trade.
It’s not always flashy. But if you’ve followed this front office long enough, you know it’s exactly how they like to operate.