Two former Mariners relievers are on the move this offseason, each looking for a fresh start after mixed results in Seattle.
Caleb Ferguson, a lefty who joined the Mariners at the trade deadline, has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds, pending a physical. Ferguson’s time in Seattle was a tale of two seasons.
In the regular season, he was mostly reliable out of the bullpen, posting a 3.27 ERA over 22 innings with 17 strikeouts and eight walks. But when the lights got brighter in October, things unraveled.
He was tagged for three runs without recording an out in Game 3 of the ALDS, then gave up two more runs over two innings in the ALCS. Not the kind of postseason performance the Mariners were hoping for when they acquired him in late July from the Pirates in exchange for right-handed prospect Jeter Martinez.
Still, Ferguson has shown flashes of being a dependable lefty arm, and the Reds are betting that a change of scenery-and perhaps a lighter spotlight-can help him find consistency.
Gregory Santos, meanwhile, is heading back to familiar territory. The right-hander signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants, the organization where he first broke into the majors. His deal reportedly includes a $1.3 million salary if he makes the big-league roster.
Santos’ time in Seattle never quite got off the ground. After coming over from the White Sox in a February 2024 trade that sent Prelander Berroa, Zach DeLoach, and a Comp Round B draft pick to Chicago, Santos struggled to stay on the mound.
He made just 16 appearances, totaling 14 1/3 innings, and finished with a 5.02 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. The numbers tell the story: nine walks, only six strikeouts, and a pitcher who couldn’t find his rhythm or health.
Seattle non-tendered him in November, opening the door for a reunion with San Francisco. For Santos, it’s a chance to hit reset in a system that knows him well-he pitched in five big-league games for the Giants between 2020 and 2021 after developing in their farm system from 2017 onward.
Both pitchers are looking to bounce back in 2026. For Ferguson, it’s about re-establishing himself as a trusted bullpen piece on a team with playoff aspirations. For Santos, it’s about staying healthy and proving he still has the stuff that once made him a rising relief arm.