The Seattle Mariners have added some extra depth to their pitching staff, signing right-handed reliever Scott Effross to a minor league contract on Wednesday. The 32-year-old will report to Triple-A Tacoma as he looks to work his way back to the major leagues for a fifth season.
Effross opened the 2026 campaign with the Detroit Tigers on a minor league agreement after attending spring training as a non-roster invitee. He spent the season with Triple-A Toledo, appearing in 27 games and throwing 36 1/3 innings. During that stretch, he posted a 4.46 ERA, struck out 16% of hitters and recorded a 42% ground-ball rate. Detroit released him last week, allowing Seattle to step in and give him another opportunity.
The right-hander has appeared in 88 major league games since making his debut in 2021. His most productive season came in 2022 with the Chicago Cubs, where he emerged as a valuable bullpen piece. The Yankees later acquired him at the trade deadline in exchange for then-prospect Hayden Wesneski.
Effross’ career was derailed by Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the entire 2023 season. He also underwent back surgery during the 2023-24 offseason and later dealt with a left hamstring strain that kept him sidelined for the first six weeks of the following season.
After returning to action, Effross pitched 10 2/3 innings for the Yankees in an inconsistent bullpen role before ultimately being non-tendered by New York.
His arrival in Seattle comes at a time when the Mariners could use additional bullpen options. The club currently ranks 11th in bullpen ERA and 13th in strikeout rate, while its relievers have posted a 5.02 ERA over the past month. Seattle has also dealt with an increase in home runs allowed, while Cole Wilcox recently landed on the sidelines with an oblique strain.
That could give Effross a legitimate opportunity to work his way back to the majors. If he performs well in Tacoma, he could find himself competing for one of the two or three middle-relief spots in Seattle’s bullpen.
For the Mariners, the signing is a low-risk addition with some potential upside. Effross has already shown he can be effective at the major league level, and a return to that form could give Seattle another experienced arm for the stretch run.
Leave a Reply