Mariners bullpen activates shiny new Anthony Swarzak, demotes David McKay, with Connor Sadzeck’s fate unknown

I don’t stress too much about baseball, but in spite of Amanda’s brilliant guide, the Mariners bullpen has done their damnedest this young season. Hopefully, today they’ll be receiving a moderately stabilizing force back off the injured list.

Anthony Swarzak, you’ll remember, was functionally salary relief as part of the Robinson Canó/Edwin Díaz trade. With one year and $7 million on his deal remaining, he joined Jay Bruce as a potentially capable veteran who could bounce back if healthy. Unfortunately, after shoulder problems hampered his effectiveness last season, a shoulder impingement had held him out of Spring Training and the Mariners’ first seven games. Hopefully healthy, Swarzak will fill into high-leverage situations as he has in the past. He wouldn’t likely be a closer on most teams, but the Mariners aren’t most teams, and an above-average reliever goes a long way.

David McKay returns to Tacoma sadly having failed to make his MLB debut, but he’ll likely do so sometime this year. Seattle still has one more spot to clear, as newly acquired Connor Sadzeck will likely be activated tonight, or at the latest for Thursday’s game, meaning the M’s have a pinch. Only Matt Festa and Chasen Bradford can be optioned to the minors, and this early in the season a DFA seems unlikely.