Juan Nicasio Rounds Out Mariners Bullpen

Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto announced today that the club has signed free agent right-handed relief pitcher Juan Nicasio to a two-year contract. The contract will cover the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

With today’s signing, the Mariners Major League, 40-man, is now at 39 players. Per club policy, the terms were not disclosed.

“Juan adds a versatile late-game presence to our bullpen,” Dipoto said. “His ability to work multiple innings in high-leverage situations gives our staff tremendous flexibility. Juan fits us really well and we’re excited that he is a Seattle Mariner.”

Nicasio, 31, pitched with three teams in 2017. He combined for a 5–5 record with 6 saves and a 2.61 ERA in 76 appearances with Pittsburgh (65 games), Philadelphia (2 games) and St. Louis (9 games). Overall, he tied for the National League lead with a career-high 76 appearances and was T9th in the NL with 21 holds. He was 12th among NL relievers in WHIP (1.08) and 14th in ERA (2.61). He spent the bulk of the year with the Pirates (2–5, 2.85 with 2 saves in 65 games) and pitched with Philadelphia (after being claimed off waivers on Aug. 31) in 2 games (1–0, 0.00) before being traded to St. Louis on Sept. 6, where he was 2–0, 1.64 with 4 saves in 9 games. His 6 saves were a single-season career-high. Nicasio pitched on consecutive days 19 times last season, and made 10 appearances of four outs or more. His 8th inning ERA of 1.69 was the 4th-lowest ERA on any MLB pitcher in 2017 (min: 30.0 IP).

In seven Major League seasons with Colorado (2011–14), Los Angeles-NL (2015), Pittsburgh (2016–17), Philadelphia (2017) and St. Louis (2017), he has combined to go 37–37 with 7 saves and a 4.55 ERA (318 ER, 629.2 IP) with 569 strikeouts in 269 games, including 82 starts. In 187 career relief appearances, he has posted a 3.38 ERA (77 ER, 205.0 IP) with 228 strikeouts. Over his last 99 relief appearances, he has a 2.70 ERA (30 ER, 100.0 IP) with 108 strikeouts. He was signed by Colorado as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 21, 2006.