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 project by the Pirates the week prior.
Fleming, 28, was a fifth-round decide by the Rays within the 2017 draft and spent his whole profession in Tampa previous to the 2024 season. The southpaw made his massive 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 a giant leaguer however made up for that with an eye-popping 63.7% floor ball price. These robust outcomes led the Rays to supply Fleming an expanded function the next yr as he posted a career-best 104 1/3 innings of labor in 2021. Sadly, the lefty struggled with the bigger function and posted a lackluster 5.09 ERA, although it’s value 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 counsel.
After his lackluster 2021 season, Fleming noticed his function in Tampa lowered considerably as he pitched simply 35 innings for the large 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 price, and a 7.9% stroll price. He continued to generate grounders at a powerful 61.4% clip in these years till his 2023 season ended early because of a bout of elbow irritation. The mix of harm issues and ineffectiveness led the Rays to designate Fleming for project, 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, nevertheless, as he finally signed with the Pirates on a break 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, nevertheless, as Fleming allowed 9 runs (eight earned) in simply three innings of labor throughout 4 appearances earlier than finally being outrighted off the membership’s roster. He remained with the Pirates within the minors and finally 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 fairly than stay within the minor leagues with Pittsburgh.
Now, Fleming will be part of a Mariners group that presently has only one left-handed pitcher (reliever Tayler Saucedo) on the lively 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 massive league degree this yr. That would depart a transparent shot at a giant league job for Fleming if he can impress Mariners brass along with his efficiency on the Triple-A degree, the place he’ll need to deal with the inflated offensive setting of the Pacific Coast League.
