Racking the brain: four less popular relievers that would make sense for Seattle

We've heard of Jax, Duran, Clase... who else could be available to upgrade the back end of the bullpen?

If anybody is interested in a quick lesson in the English lesson, today a learned that wracking and racking are mostly interchangeable. From Dictionairy.com:

The words rack and wrack are often used interchangeably in the contexts of destruction and torment. Rack is the more common choice (and often the one considered more standard) in expressions like racking my brain and nerve-racking, but wrack is also commonly used. In rack and ruin, rack is considered the standard choice.

Now that we’ve clearly established that I questioned my knowledge of my most proficient language after typing just one word of this article, let’s get to the baseball part.

Seattle should be searching for ways to reinforce the back end of their bullpen, with Andres Munoz, Matt Brash and Gabe Speier currently doing all of the heavy lifting. Aside from overall performance (ERA) I am looking for two things here. Strikeouts, and keeping the ball in the ballpark. Seattle’s bullpen has a whole currently sits at No. 18 in K/9 (8.40) in major league baseball. Fine, but not optimal. They also rank No. 12 in HR/9 (1.00) and for a team that plays in a ballpark that does everything it can to limit early season home runs, they probably are lucky that number sits where it does.

Here are four names the Mariners should go after

Dennis Santana, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

29 years old, free agent in 2027

Waiver wire to high leverage reliever. We’ve never heard that story in Seattle before, right?

Dennis Santana does two things extremely well. Keep the ball on the ground (43.3 GB% in 2025) and keep the ball in the ballpark (2.1 HR/FB%). In other words… he’s allowed one home run in 43.1 IP this season. That would certainly play in Seattle. He’s controllable through the 2026 season, so Seattle would be getting roughly a year and 2 months of him. He’s sporting the second best ERA in the National League among all qualified relievers. The cost is probably similar to what they just paid for Josh Naylor.

Lake Bachar, RHP, Miami Marlins

30 years old, free agent in 2031

This guy has a name straight out of an old English fairytale. The fastball has plus movement and pairs well with the deceptive sweeper. He does throw a splitter and slider, but far less often.

Bachar has been a late bloomer after struggling through the minors for the bulk of his career. While he’s always produced high strikeout rates, the control and walk rates have always kept him from reaching his potential. He is still struggling in that department with a 4.14 BB/9, but the strikeouts make a guy believe (9.46 K/9) and his ability to keep the ball in the ballpark (he’s allowed three home runs in 45.2 IP).

If I’m Miami, I’m selling high on Lake Bachar’s late development since his timeline really doesn’t match up with when their team will crest (if at all?).

Oh, and Mr. and Mrs. Bachar just welcomed a newborn on July 25 (yesterday). So. Dad strength?

Brock Stewart, RHP, Minnesota Twins

33 years old, free agent in 2028

Stone Cold Steve Austin Brock Stewart has been nothing short of spectacular in his age 33 season. He’s pitched just 32.1 innings, but that was mostly due to missing time with a hamstring issue early in April.

11.13 K/9, 3.06 BB/9, 2.51 ERA and a low 7.5% HR/FB rate. The fastball can’t be touched with a .188 opponent average and a 34.8% whiff rate on a pitch he throws 54.4% of the time. He couples that with a sweeper that carries a 54% whiff rate. Stewart does have three other offerings — a sinker, cutter and changeup.

This is a true back of the bullpen arm and would cost Seattle a significant haul with the control and performance. But Minnesota is looking to sell off after a poor showing this season and could figure to get some help for next year (Harry Ford, anybody?) in a deal like this.

Steven Cruz, RHP, Kansas City Royals

26 years old, free agent in 2031

Breakout season. Young. Controllable. This is a big bullpen swing.

Steven Cruz is a mammoth of a human, checking in at 6’7”, 225lb. He carries huge fastball velo and value. The ladder of which we know this front office heavily favors. Cruz’ four seamer sits at 98-100 mph with a 27% whiff rate and a .191 xBA against it, with a cutter and and slider that are also plus, and garnering significant whiff rates.

The results in his first large sample in a relief role in the majors? 2.77 ERA, 45% ground ball rate, and just four home runs allowed in 39 IP. The strikeouts are down (7.62 K/9) and out of the ideal range, but with a .214 bapip, and a low barrel-rate (5%) we know he’s missing the middle of the bat.

Enjoy deadline season.

Enjoy baseball.