The Mariners Wednesday signed free agent RHP Juan Nicasio, 31, to a two-year contract, a deal struck at the winter meetings last week. He pitched for three teams last season, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and St. Louis, compiling a combined 5-5 record with six saves and a 2.61 ERA in 76 appearances.
“Juan adds a versatile late-game presence to our bullpen,” said GM Jerry Dipoto. “His ability to work multiple innings in high-leverage situations gives our staff tremendous flexibility. Juan fits us really well.”
Reports say the deal is worth $17 million.
Nicasio is primarily an eighth-inning set-up man who pitched in 65 games for Pittsburgh, two for Philadelphia and nine for St. Louis. He tied for the National League lead with a career-high 76 appearances and was T9 in the NL with 21 holds. He was also 12th among NL relievers in WHIP (1.08) and 14th in ERA (2.61).
The Pirates waived Nicasio Aug. 31, after which he was claimed by Philadelphia and then traded to the Cardinals Sept. 6. Nicasio pitched on consecutive days 19 times last season, and made 10 appearances of four outs or more. His eighth-inning ERA of 1.69 was the fourth-lowest of any MLB pitcher in 2017.
In seven MLB seasons with Colorado (2011-14), Los Angeles-NL (2015), Pittsburgh (2016-17), Philadelphia (2017) and St. Louis (2017), he is 37-37 with seven saves and a 4.55 ERA in 269 games, including 82 starts. In 187 career relief appearances, he has a 3.38 ERA with 228 strikeouts. Nicasio signed with the Rockies as a non-drafted free agent Aug. 21, 2006.
Seattle’s 40-man roster stands at 39 players.
Mariners off-season transactions
Oct. 31: Outrighted RHP Casey Lawrence to AAA Tacoma.
Nov. 2: Claimed INF/OF Andrew Romine off waivers from Detroit; reinstated RHP David Phelps and LHP Drew Smyly from the 60-day disabled list; announced that 1B Yonder Alonso, OF Jarrod Dyson, INF Gordon Beckham, C Carlos Ruiz and 1B Danny Valencia had become free agents; declined 2018 options on RHPs Hisashi Iwakuma and Yovani Gallardo.
Nov. 3: Claimed INF Zach Vincej off waivers.
Nov. 7: Outrighted Vincej to Tacoma.
Nov. 14: Hired Jim Brower as an assistant coach.
Nov. 15: Acquired INF Ryon Healy from Oakland in exchange for RHP Emilio Pagan and and INF Alexander Campos.
Nov. 27: Signed RHP Hisashi Iwakuma to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Nov. 30: Claimed LHP Sam Moll off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Dec. 4: Hired Brian Delunas as bullpen coach.
Dec. 6: Traded catching prospect David Banuelos to the Twins in exchange for $1 million in international bonus money. Banuelos had been ranked 10th among Seattle’s major league prospects by MLB.com.
Dec. 7: Acquired two-time All-Star Dee Gordon and $1 million in international slot money from Miami in exchange for RHP Robert Dugger, RHP Nick Neidert and INF Christopher Torres.
Dec. 8: Claimed RHP Mike Morin off waivers from Kansas City.
Dec. 10: Released RHP Seth Frankoff to allow Frankoff to pursue a career in South Korea.
Dec. 11: Claimed OF Cameron Perkins off waivers from Philadelphia.
Dec. 13: Acquired RHP Shawn Armstrong from Cleveland and LHP Anthony Misiewicz from Tampa Bay, both for international slot money.
Dec. 14: Selected 1B Mike Ford from the Yankees in the Rule 5 craft; selected C Joseph Odom from Atlanta and C Tyler Baker and LHP Lane Ratliff from Arizona in the AAA portion of the Rule 5 draft.
Dec. 18: Released LHP Andrew Albers, allowing Albers to play in Japan.
Dec. 20: Signed free agent RHP Juan Nicasio to a two-year contract.
