The Mariners are making an intriguing move by signing reliever Brendan White, who’s been plying his trade in the independent leagues with the Lancaster Stormers. White’s journey has been a rollercoaster, and now he’s ready for a fresh start with Seattle.
At 27, White brings some major league experience to the table. He made his big-league debut with Detroit back in 2023, where he appeared in 33 games and logged 40 2/3 innings with a 5.09 ERA.
Notably, he struck out 25% of the batters he faced while maintaining a solid 8.5% walk rate. His fastball sits comfortably in the 94-95 mph range, complemented by a mid-80s breaking ball that he used frequently.
However, the journey hasn’t been without its setbacks. White lost most of the 2024 season due to injury, leading to Detroit non-tendering him.
They did bring him back on a minor league deal, but his return to Triple-A Toledo was rocky. His strikeout rate dipped to 17%, and he struggled with an ERA north of seven.
Things didn’t improve much with the Stormers, where he allowed six runs and issued 10 free passes in just under 10 innings.
Now, with the Mariners, White has a chance to reset and refocus. He’s likely to start the season at Triple-A Tacoma, where he’ll aim to rediscover the form that once made him a promising prospect. If he can harness his previous strengths, White could be a valuable asset for Seattle down the line.