PEORIA, Ariz. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto today announced from the Mariners Spring Training camp that the team has signed free agent left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc to a 2018 Major League contract.
LeBlanc, 33, was released at his request by the New York Yankees on Friday.
LeBlanc joins the Mariners at their Spring Training Camp in Peoria, Arizona. He will wear #49.
Seattle’s Major League, 40-man, roster is at 38. Seattle’s camp roster is at 35 players: 29 roster players and 6 non-roster invitees.
“Wade is a veteran with a track record of success, including in Seattle, particularly over the past two seasons” Dipoto said. “His skill set is unique in that he gives us depth as both a reliever and as a starting pitcher.”
Over the past two seasons (2016-current), LeBlanc is 9-2 with 3 saves and a 4.15 ERA (60 ER, 130.0 IP) in 69 games, 8 starts, with Seattle and Pittsburgh.
LeBlanc made seven appearances with the Yankees this spring, and posted a mark of 0-1 with a 5.27 ERA (13.2 IP, 8 ER).
LeBlanc spent the 2017 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He appeared in 50 games, all in relief, and was 5-2 with 1 save and a 4.50 ERA (68.0 IP, 34 ER). He limited right-handed batters to a .217 batting average against (38×175) with a .270 on-base percentage and a .389 slugging percentage (.658 OPS against).
Wade pitched part of the 2016 season with Seattle, when he was 3-0 with 1 save and a 4.50 ERA in 11 games, 8 starts. The Mariners acquired him from Toronto on June 22, 2016 and traded him to Pittsburgh on Sept. 13, 2016. He remained with the Pirates until signing with New York-AL as a free agent on Jan. 17, 2018.
LeBlanc is a veteran of 9 Major League seasons with San Diego (2008-11), Miami (2012-13), Houston (2013), Los Angeles-AL (2014), New York-AL (2014), Seattle (2016) and Pittsburgh (2016-17). He has a combined Major League record of 30-35 with 3 saves and a 4.40 ERA (282 ER, 576.2 IP) in 176 games, 79 starts.
Courtesy of Seattle Mariners.
