When the Mariners traded Paul Sewald to the Diamondbacks at the 2023 deadline, the reaction in Seattle was swift and emotional. Fans were stunned.
Players weren’t thrilled either. And when the season wrapped with the Mariners just one game shy of a Wild Card berth and two games off the AL West crown-while Sewald was pitching in the World Series for Arizona-the frustration only deepened.
The decision became a flashpoint for criticism of President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto.
Fast forward to now, and the sting might feel even sharper.
Sewald just re-signed with the Diamondbacks on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. That’s not a typo. One of the Mariners’ most effective relievers in recent memory-available for a bargain price-and Seattle passed.
Now, to be fair, this isn’t the same Sewald who dominated in 2022. Injuries have limited him to just 59.1 innings over the past two seasons, including a mere 19.2 innings last year split between the Guardians and Tigers.
The velocity dipped. The command wavered.
But the experience? Still there.
The savvy? Still intact.
And the price tag? More than reasonable.
Let’s not forget what Sewald meant to Seattle during his time there. From 2021 through mid-2023, he was one of the most reliable arms in the Mariners’ bullpen.
That 2022 campaign was especially memorable-2.67 ERA, 139 ERA+, 0.766 WHIP, and 1.6 bWAR. He wasn’t just good; he was a difference-maker.
And in a ballpark like T-Mobile, where fly balls go to die and pitchers thrive, it’s not hard to imagine Sewald recapturing some of that old magic.
That’s what makes this missed opportunity so tough to swallow for Mariners fans. Because while the bullpen still has talent-Andrés Muñoz brings electric stuff, Matt Brash is nasty when he’s on, Gabe Speier has quietly been solid, and Jose A. Ferrer adds intrigue after arriving via trade-depth remains a real concern.
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi recently pointed out that the bullpen is his biggest question mark with this Mariners roster. And he’s not alone in that thinking. Injuries exposed the lack of reliable reinforcements last year, and unless something changes, 2026 could bring more of the same.
Take a look at the depth chart. Carlos Vargas logged a heavy workload last season, but consistency was an issue.
He’s got the arm, no doubt, but the command hasn’t followed. Casey Legumina flashed promise early on-there was a moment when it looked like Seattle had unearthed another bullpen gem-but he finished with a 5.62 ERA, a 68 ERA+, and a -0.9 bWAR.
That’s not the kind of back-end insurance you want when games get tight in September.
Then there’s Cooper Criswell, slotted in as the eighth man in the pen. Over five seasons, he’s posted a 4.48 ERA and a 1.435 WHIP.
Serviceable, but not exactly lockdown material. One name to keep an eye on is Emerson Hancock.
The former top prospect transitioned from starter to reliever last year and showed flashes of potential. If he can stick in that role, he could be a difference-maker-but that’s still a big “if.”
This is where Sewald’s absence looms large. He’s not just a familiar face or a fan favorite-though he’s both.
He’s a proven late-inning option with postseason experience and a track record of success in Seattle. And he was available for what amounts to a low-risk, high-reward deal.
Dipoto and the Mariners clearly have a vision for how they want to build this bullpen. But it’s fair to wonder if not bringing Sewald back-especially at that price-will come back to haunt them.
Because in a division as competitive as the AL West, margins are razor-thin. Sometimes, one reliable arm can be the difference between October baseball and watching from home.
And if Sewald finds his groove again in Arizona, Mariners fans will be left asking the same question they did back in 2023: Why let him go in the first place?