SEATTLE, Wash. — Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto announced today that the club has signed free agent right-handed pitcher Hunter Strickland. In order to make room on Seattle’s Major League, 40-man roster, the club has designated for assignment right-handed pitcher Max Povse.

Seattle’s 40-man roster remains at 40 players. Per club policy, the terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Seattle has 7 days to trade, release or outright the contract of Povse to the minor leagues.

“Hunter Strickland has the ability and the track record to be an impact reliever in high-leverage situations for the Mariners in 2019,” Dipoto said.

Strickland was T9th in the National League with 21 holds in 2017 with the Giants.

Strickland, 30 (turns 31 on Sept. 24), went 3–5 with a 3.97 ERA (20 ER, 45.1 IP) while converting 14-of-18 save opportunities in 49 relief appearances with San Francisco in 2018. He recorded 37 strikeouts and 21 walks while holding opponents to a .247 (43x174) average against last season. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound right-hander limited left-handed batters to a .186 (16x86) average against and struck out 21 of 98 lefties faced. He combined for 6 appearances on rehab assignments with the AZL Giants (1 G), High-A San Jose (1 G) and Triple-A Sacramento (4 G). He was on the 10-day disabled list, June 19-Aug. 18 (transferred to the 60-day DL on July 7), with a fractured right hand.

In 2017, Strickland ranked T9th in the National League with 21 holds, while his 2.64 ERA (18 ER, 61.1 IP) was 15th-best among NL relievers. Overall, he was 4–3 with 1 save and a 2.64 ERA while striking out 58 and walking 29 in 68 outings with the Giants in 2017.

Strickland has appeared in 5 Major League seasons with the Giants (2014–18), compiling a career record of 14–14 with a 2.91 ERA (73 ER, 226.0 IP), while striking out 211 and walking 79 in 253 relief appearances. The native of Thomaston, GA, was originally selected by the Red Sox in the 18th round of the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Pike County (GA) High School. He was acquired by Pittsburgh from Boston in a 3-player deal that sent Adam LaRoche (inf) to the Red Sox on July 22, 2009. He was claimed off waivers by the Giants from the Pirates on April 2, 2013, and went on to make his Major League debut with San Francisco on Sept. 1, 2014 at Colorado.

Povse, 25 (turns 26 on Aug. 23), went 5–9 with a 5.46 ERA (59 ER, 97.1 IP) with 105 strikeouts and 47 walks in 18 starts between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma in 2018. Over 8 starts with the Rainiers, he averaged 11.05 strikeouts-per-9.0-innings (45 SO, 36.2 IP). In 10 starts with the Travelers, the 6-foot-8, 239-pound right-hander was 4–3 with a 3.41 ERA (23 ER, 60.2 IP) with 60 strikeouts and 19 walks. He was on the minor league DL, July 15-end of the season, with a right shoulder strain.

Povse was acquired by the Mariners from Atlanta along with Rob Whalen (rhp) for Alex Jackson (of) and a player to be named later on Nov. 28, 2016; Seattle sent Tyler Pike (lhp) to the Braves on Dec. 9, 2016 to complete the trade. Povse made his Major League debut with the Mariners in 2017, making 3 relief appearances and allowing 5 runs (3 earned runs) in 3.2 innings of work (7.36 ERA). The native of Raleigh, NC, was originally selected by Atlanta in the 3rd round of the 2014 MLB Draft and has spent 5 minor league seasons in the Braves (2014–16) and Mariners (2016–18) organizations.