Mariners activate Brandon Brennan, DFA Jimmy Yacabonis, option Seth Frankoff

On the heels of a deflating 9-0 loss in the back-end of a twin bill with the Oakland Athletics Monday night that left fans clamoring for reinforcements, the Mariners dipped into the pool of available players at the alternate site today, activating 2019 Rule-5 success story RHP Brandon Brennan.

In a pair of corresponding moves, noted not-Logan Gilbert right-handers Seth Frankoff and Jimmy Yacabonis were jettisoned from Seattle with Frankoff headed back down I-5 for Tacoma and Yacabonis on his way to anywhere-but-here as he re-enters DFA limbo.

The veteran journeymen combined to surrender six earned runs on seven hits and five walks over three innings of work in a pivotal spot last night shortly after Seattle had moved within just one game of the Houston Astros for a playoff berth.

Brennan, who logged 47.1 relief innings for the M’s last season, rejoins the big league club after hitting the IL with a strained oblique back on July 26. The 29-year-old’s lone appearance this season was a 1.1 inning outing against Houston in the club’s second game of the season.

In 2019, Brennan relied heavily on his sinker—which he threw 48.7% of the time and averaged 94.7 MPH on the pitch—and rode the pitch to a 55.2% ground ball rate; good for 19th-best among big league relievers (min. 40 IP). He’ll join a depleted Mariners bullpen that ranks dead last in the Majors with -1.4 fWAR this season and recently saw the departure of two of the group’s more reliable pieces.

It appears that UTIL Tim Lopes has re-secured his roster spot after playing a key role in the Mariners’ Tuesday victory, going 3-for-3 with three doubles.