In today's edition: the Seattle Mariners signed José Suárez ahead of a series with the Braves, former catcher Luis Torrens received a contract extension from the Mets, and the Seahawks evaluated their 2026 draft picks at a rookie minicamp.
Mariners add a familiar foe: José Suárez joins roster before Braves series
The Seattle Mariners made an unexpected but calculated move, claiming left-handed pitcher José Suárez off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. The acquisition is especially intriguing because the two teams meet Monday at T-Mobile Park. Suárez, who spent his first six seasons with the Mariners’ longtime divisional rival — the Los Angeles Angels — is well acquainted with Seattle’s club. He has faced the Mariners more than any other team in his career (14 games), which makes him a potentially dangerous weapon. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Mariners placed Triple-A outfielder Rylan Thomas on waivers.
The decision to sign the 28-year-old Suárez was driven by the urgent need to patch the bullpen after Matt Brash went on the injured list with inflammation of the right latissimus dorsi. The club has already made several emergency moves: they first called up Josh Simpson from Tacoma, then replaced him with Nick Davila from Arkansas. Now the system has an experienced lefty who, while not sharp this season (6.61 ERA in eight games for the Braves), posted solid results in 2021 and 2022, finishing those years with ERAs under 4.00 and WHIPs below 1.25.
For those unfamiliar with baseball terminology: waivers are a procedure where a team exposes a player and any other team can claim him and take on his contract. ERA (earned run average — the average number of earned runs allowed per nine innings) and WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) are key pitching metrics. The lower these numbers, the better the pitcher. Signing Suárez appears to be the Mariners’ attempt to capitalize on his experience facing former teammates. As noted in a Seattle Sports article, the move was made on the eve of a series against a league leader, adding extra intrigue.
With this transaction, the Mariners get not just an extra arm but a player with seven years of major-league experience who knows how to pitch against American League teams. Meanwhile, Rylan Thomas — who debuted in MLB last year but produced modest Triple-A numbers this season (just two home runs and a .260/.313/.328 line in 31 games) — will be looking for a new organization. Suárez’s time in Seattle is only beginning, and much will depend on whether he can regain his previous form.
New York Mets reward ex-Mariners catcher Luis Torrens with contract extension
The New York Mets signed Luis Torrens to a two-year extension worth $11.5 million on his 30th birthday, locking up one of the game’s top backup catchers through the 2028 season. Torrens, who played the most games of his career with the Seattle Mariners (186 games from 2020–23), has become a defensive cornerstone for the Mets since his acquisition from the New York Yankees in May 2024. “This is something special, honestly. I’m really happy,” Torrens said through an interpreter before a game against the Los Angeles Angels.
A former member of five different organizations, Torrens quickly established himself as a defensive force, stepping in for injured starter Francisco Álvarez and sharing time with him on a club that went 89–73 and reached the National League Championship Series. Torrens was a Gold Glove finalist last season after throwing out 20 of 49 attempted base stealers (40.8%), the second-best rate in the league. According to Baseball Savant, he led baseball with 12 caught-stealing above average. This season he has already thrown out four of seven attempted stolen-base attempts.
The term “caught-stealing above average” can be confusing — it’s a stat that measures how often a catcher throws out attempted base stealers compared to the league average. A value of 12 means Torrens prevented 12 more steals than the average catcher. Also, being a “Gold Glove finalist” means he was nominated for the prestigious defensive award at his position.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza emphasized Torrens’ importance in controlling the opponent’s running game: “This is huge, huge. He’s been a great teammate, a great player, one of the best, if not the best, backup catchers in the league. I’m proud of him and glad he’s finally getting rewarded.” As noted in the Seattle Sports article, the contract recognizes Torrens’ hard work and his transformation from a frequently traded player into one of the most valuable defensive specialists in the league.
First impressions: Seahawks evaluate 2026 draft rookies
This past weekend, the Seahawks held a two-day rookie minicamp at the VMAC for their 2026 draft class. For the eight players selected by the team, it was a chance not only to meet one another but to make a first impression on the coaching staff. Head coach Mike Macdonald noted significant improvement between the first and second workouts. By the second day, he said, the play began to resemble professional football, which was encouraging. Summing up the mood, Macdonald emphasized that the rookies bring freshness and a new spirit to the team — important for any organization, especially for a reigning Super Bowl champion like Seattle.
Most attention from fans and analysts focused on running back Jadarian Price, the team’s first-round pick at No. 32 overall. The main question experts asked was whether Price is ready to play as a receiver out of the backfield. In college at Notre Dame, he caught just 15 passes over three seasons, raising doubts about his versatility. At the minicamp, however, Price actively participated in receiving drills. Macdonald explained in his interview with The Seattle Times that this was intentional — to give the player more room to work and reduce the risk of injury in contact situations. “That doesn’t mean we made it a special emphasis,” the coach said. “It’s just more sensible in camp to give him more work in open space rather than in traffic.” It appears the team will introduce Price carefully, especially since he might be the starting running back from Day 1. Notably, in a kickoff-return drill Price had only one attempt before being subbed out, even though he had been productive in that role in college — two touchdowns last season. The Seahawks already have return specialist Rashid Shahid, so the staff will weigh how much to involve the rookie.
Safety Bud Clark, a second-round pick at No. 64, also ran the camp in a limited fashion, doing most of his work without contact during warm-up segments. Still, his energy and charisma didn’t go unnoticed. Macdonald smiled recalling that Clark was asked to close out the second practice with a traditional chant, which the team responded to enthusiastically. “John (general manager John Schneider) said he’s the exact opposite of an ‘energy vampire,’” Macdonald joked. The coach used that term to describe another rookie, cornerback Julian Neal, so the camp atmosphere was clearly upbeat. Neal worked heavily on the left side of the defense and, according to the coach, “if there were a third practice, Julian would have led the final chant.”
There’s an interesting development on the offensive line. Guard Bo Stevens, a fifth-round pick, worked exclusively at right guard. That spot is currently held by veteran Anthony Bradford, but Stevens could provide serious competition. The coach indicated Stevens will be trained as a versatile lineman capable of playing both guard spots. “Bo is playing on the right now, but we’ll work him on both sides,” Macdonald explained. “We need flexibility on the line.” Sixth-round pick Emmanuel Henderson Jr., a reserve tight end, was heavily involved on special teams, which for a player of his profile could be the key to making the roster. “Put me wherever you want — I’ll dominate,” Henderson said confidently, pointing to his extensive special-teams experience in college.
Several defensive backs stood out. Cornerback Andre Fuller, a seventh-round pick, worked both slot corner and outside, indicating coaches trust his versatility. Fuller said that this usage signals growing confidence in him. Michael Dansby, also a seventh-round pick, spent most of his time on the right side and was pleased with his play, saying he “didn’t make too many mistakes.” Nose tackle Devin Eastern, despite his specialized A-gap role, also worked at other defensive-line spots. General manager John Schneider explained that Eastern is seen not only as a run-stopper but as a potential pass-rusher who can move along the line of scrimmage.
The main takeaway from the minicamp is simple: the Seahawks are building a contender from the ground up and aren’t clinging to last year’s rookie class. Mike Macdonald made it clear that every new player is a new story. “You can’t be married to what happened last year,” he said. “You have to look at them with fresh eyes, with excitement, and let them be who they are. They can’t be someone else.” The rookies will now get a week of rest before joining veterans for the final phase of the offseason program, when it will become clearer how well these first impressions hold up.
