The Mariners have signed left-hander Josh Fleming to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Tacoma, as relayed by Tacoma Rainiers broadcast Mike Curto on X (hyperlink). Fleming elected free company on the day of the commerce deadline after being designated for task by the Pirates the week prior.
Fleming, 28, was a fifth-round decide by the Rays within the 2017 draft and spent his total profession in Tampa previous to the 2024 season. The southpaw made his large league debut again in 2020 and loved a stable rookie season with a 2.78 ERA and 4.40 FIP in seven appearances, together with 5 begins, that totaled 32 1/3 innings of labor. Fleming struck out simply 19.2% of opponents in that first season as an enormous leaguer however made up for that with an eye-popping 63.7% floor ball charge. These sturdy outcomes led the Rays to supply Fleming an expanded position the next 12 months as he posted a career-best 104 1/3 innings of labor in 2021. Sadly, the lefty struggled with the bigger position and posted a lackluster 5.09 ERA, although it’s price noting that his 4.27 FIP and 4.36 xFIP each point out that he pitched higher than that top-level run prevention quantity may in any other case recommend.
After his lackluster 2021 season, Fleming noticed his position in Tampa lowered considerably as he pitched simply 35 innings for the massive league membership in 2022 adopted by 51 2/3 innings of labor in 2023. As soon as once more splitting time between the bullpen and beginning rotation, Fleming pitched to a mixed 5.40 ERA with a 5.16 FIP, a 13.8% strikeout charge, and a 7.9% stroll charge. He continued to generate grounders at a formidable 61.4% clip in these years till his 2023 season ended early attributable to a bout of elbow irritation. The mix of damage considerations and ineffectiveness led the Rays to designate Fleming for task, and whereas he was snapped up off the waiver wire by the Phillies the lefty turned a free agent not lengthy afterwards when Philadelphia non-tendered him.
The southpaw ended up remaining in Pennsylvania regardless of that non-tender, nonetheless, as he ultimately signed with the Pirates on a cut up contract again in February. Fleming made the membership’s Opening Day roster out of Spring Coaching and pitched pretty effectively for Pittsburgh over the primary month of the season. Issues took a pointy flip for the more severe in Could, nonetheless, as Fleming allowed 9 runs (eight earned) in simply three innings of labor throughout 4 appearances earlier than ultimately being outrighted off the membership’s roster. He remained with the Pirates within the minors and ultimately returned to the roster in mid-June. He pitched effectively for the membership following his return with a 1.46 ERA in 12 1/3 innings of labor, although he did so with questionable peripherals as he walked extra batters (5) than he struck out (4). That led the Pirates to DFA him as soon as once more, although this time he determined to return to free company quite than stay within the minor leagues with Pittsburgh.
Now, Fleming will be part of a Mariners group that at present has only one left-handed pitcher (reliever Tayler Saucedo) on the energetic roster. Gabe Speier and Jhonathan Diaz are each lefty choices within the minors already on the 40-man roster, although every has struggled on the large league degree this 12 months. That would depart a transparent shot at an enormous league job for Fleming if he can impress Mariners brass along with his efficiency on the Triple-A degree, the place he’ll must cope with the inflated offensive setting of the Pacific Coast League.
