Mariners claim RHP Phillips Valdéz off waivers from Texas

SEATTLE, Wash. – Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today that the Mariners have claimed RHP Phillips Valdéz off waivers from Texas.

Seattle’s 40-man roster is now at 35 players.

Valdéz, 27 (turns 28 on November 16), made 11 relief appearances with Texas last season, going 0-0 with a 3.94 ERA (7 ER, 16.0 IP), while striking out 18 and walking 9. He made his Major League debut on June 8 vs. Oakland, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with 1 hit and 2 walks. In 26 appearances, including 14 starts, with Triple-A Nashville in 2019, he posted a 4.92 ERA (43 ER, 78.2 IP) with 36 walks and 65 strikeouts. As a reliever, he went 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA (10 ER, 24.0 IP), compared to 1-5 with a 5.43 ERA (33 ER, 54.2 IP) as a starter. Over his last 11 appearances (3 starts), he allowed only 4 earned runs over 20.1 innings pitched (1.77 ERA), while striking out 19 and walking 15.

Valdéz has appeared in 10 minor league seasons with Cleveland (2009-10), Washington (2012-18) and Texas (2019). He was originally signed by Cleveland as a non-drafted free agent at age 17 on December 31, 2008. In 2010, he was released by Cleveland and signed with Tampa Bay as a minor league free agent. He did not appear in a game with the Rays before he was released on May 1, 2011. Following his release, he spent the remainder of the 2011 season training at a Japanese Baseball Academy in the Dominican Republic. He signed with Washington as a minor league free agent on May 30, 2012, and spent 7 minor league seasons in the Nationals organization before signing a minor league deal with Texas on December 21, 2018. In parts of 10 minor league seasons, he is 38-34 with a 3.76 ERA (43 ER, 78.2 IP) with 279 walks and 535 strikeouts.