Notes: 'Pen now has 7 rookies; Moore at 2B

SEATTLE -- While the Mariners took steps to solidify their future with Trade Deadline deals by general manager Jerry Dipoto that brought more young players and prospects into Seattle’s system, one less-discussed factor was the impact on this year’s already inexperienced bullpen.

After trading Dan Altavilla and Taylor Williams to the Padres -- in addition to having seven relievers on the injured list -- the Mariners opened a four-game series with the Rangers on Friday night with seven rookies in their nine-man relief crew, as well as three rookies in their six-man rotation.

One of the veteran relievers is 36-year-old right-hander Yoshihisa Hirano, who will assume the closer role despite having pitched just four games since recently returning from a bout with COVID-19 that wiped out his Summer Camp.

The other veteran in the bullpen will be 29-year-old Kendall Graveman, who opened the season in Seattle’s rotation before being put on the IL after two starts due to a benign tumor in his neck. Graveman began transitioning to a relief role at the Mariners’ alternate training site and was activated off the IL on Tuesday, but he hasn’t pitched in relief since 2014, when he appeared in five games out of the ‘pen with Toronto.

“We don’t really have any roles, other than Hirano will pitch at the end of games,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Some nights it might be the eighth, most games it’ll be the ninth. He’s obviously our most veteran guy down there.”

Most of Seattle’s experienced relievers -- including Matt Magill, Carl Edwards Jr., Brandon Brennan and Erik Swanson -- are on the IL and Williams and Altavilla had been two of the remaining late-inning options, with Williams serving as closer in recent weeks.

Even before their latest departures, the Mariners ranked 28th in MLB with a 6.37 bullpen ERA.

Seattle just added Walker Lockett, a 26-year-old rookie claimed off waivers from the Mets and activated 32-year-old rookie Seth Frankoff, who pitched well as a starter in Korea the past two years but has just one MLB appearance on his resume from 2017 with the Cubs.

The rest of the bullpen consists of younger rookies Joey Gerber, Anthony Misiewicz, Aaron Fletcher, Brady Lail and Rule 5 Draft pickup Yohan Ramirez. Misiewicz and Ramirez are the only holdovers from the Opening Day roster just six weeks ago.

Gerber, Ramirez, Fletcher and Misiewicz will get more high-leverage, late-inning opportunities now.

“We do have to shuffle it around, and that will be ever-changing,” Servais said. “We haven’t really had defined roles at any point. We started to figure out who was going to handle most of the stuff at the back of the game and a couple of those guys aren’t with us anymore. So it gives other people opportunities. We’ll give them the ball and see if they produce.”

Graveman could be an interesting option, as he was throwing his fastball in the 95-97 mph range in his starting role as he returned from Tommy John surgery.

“He’s really looking forward to contributing and being part of the team,” Servais said. “When you’re hurt and rehabbing like he was the last couple years, you don’t feel a part of anything. It’s a big goal of his to finish the season pitching.”

Moore means less for Shed
Utility man Dylan Moore was activated off the 10-day IL on Friday, with fellow utility man Tim Lopes optioned to the alternate training site in Tacoma, Wash. Moore was one of the Mariners’ biggest breakout performers prior to spraining his right wrist on Aug. 20.

Moore earned every-day playing time -- primarily in right field -- by hitting .282/.364/.538 with five home runs, 10 RBIs and six stolen bases in 21 games before injuring his wrist on a check swing. Lopes got off to a quick start as well and earned a lot of time at designated hitter after Daniel Vogelbach was traded, but the 26-year-old had posted just a .205/.250/.253 line over his past 21 games.

With Sam Haggerty playing well in the outfield since Moore’s injury, Moore will see more time now at second base. Shed Long Jr. came into the season as the starter at second after a superb September, but he's hit just .170/.238/.295 in 32 games and will see his playing time reduced while playing a little left field, DH and second base in the remaining games.

“Shed is still a very young player,” Servais said. “The first 30-some games in the season didn't go as he'd hoped offensively, but there's still a lot to like in what he brings. But it’s giving other guys an opportunity that have performed a little bit better to this point this season.”