The Mariners Saturday signed free e3 agent LHP Marc Rzepczynski — nicknamed “Scrabble” — to a two-year contract worth a reported $5.5 million per season and also agreed to terms with free agent RHP Casey Fien. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club designated for assignment LHP Dean Kiekhefer and RHP Zach Lee.
Rzepczynski, 31, who is expected to primarily face left-handed hitters, combined for a record of 1-0 with a 2.64 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 70 appearances with Oakland and Washington last season. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder began the season with the Athletics, then was acquired by the Nationals Aug. 4 in exchange for infielder Max Schrock.
In 14 outings with Washington, he posted a 1.54 ERA. Rzepczynski (pronounced “zep-CHIN-ski”) also made three relief appearances with the Nationals in the 2016 NLCS, going 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA. Rzepczynski has made at least 70 appearances in five of the past six seasons (2011-16).
The native of Oak Lawn, IL., was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 2007 draft out of the University of California-Riverside. In parts of eight MLB seasons with Toronto (2009-11), St. Louis (2011-13), Cleveland (2013-15), San Diego (2015), Oakland (2016) and Washington (2016), Rzepczynski has compiled a career record of 12-24 with a 3.80 ERA.
Fien, 33, combined to go 1-1 with a 5.49 ERA last season with Minnesota and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The native of Santa Rosa, CA, was selected by Detroit in the 20th round of the 2006 draft out of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In parts of seven MLB seasons, Fien has a career record of 17-17 with a 4.06 ERA.
Kiekhefer, 27, was claimed off waivers from St. Louis Nov. 4. He made 26 relief appearances with the Cardinals after making his debut last season. Lee, 24, was acquired from the Dodgers in exchange for INF Chris Taylor June 19. He combined for a record of 7-14 with a 6.14 ERA in 27 starts with AAA Oklahoma City and AAA Tacoma last season.
In a move Friday, the Mariners outrighted the contract of RHP Ryan Weber to AAA Tacoma. He had been designated for assignment Nov. 28.