Reliever Dominic Leone opened the 2023 season with the New York Mets, but was traded to the Los Angeles Angels before the deadline.
He actually joined a team with hopes to contend, as the Angels were 56-51 on August 1 when Leone reported.
Things went south in LA, though, and this week, the team placed several players on waivers as a way to shed some salary if contenders claimed some of them.
Leone was one of those players.
On Thursday, Leone’s new destination has been revealed: he will be joining the Seattle Mariners.
“Source: Reliever Dominic Leone claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners,” MLB insider Robert Murray tweeted.
Source: Reliever Dominic Leone claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) August 31, 2023
Leone actually started his MLB career in Seattle.
He pitched there in 2014 and 2015.
After that, he played for several other squads before finding his way back to where it all started.
Leone was having a passable season with the Mets, as he posted a 4.40 ERA in 30.2 innings of work.
He then posted a 5.54 ERA in LA, in 13 innings.
For his career, the 31-year-old righty has a 3.81 ERA and can be expected to join a team in the middle of a playoff race.
The Mariners, with a 76-57 record, have taken over the top spot in the AL West despite selling a couple of assets before the deadline.
They are showing that they can legitimately compete with the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers, but in order to win the AL West crown, they will need all the help they can get, especially in relief.
Leone is not a star, but he definitely can help.
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