Mariners officially release left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski

By Ryan Divish The Seattle Times • June 6, 2018 6:00 pm
Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino, left, and relief pitcher Marc Rzepczynski celebrate after the final out in a 7-6 win against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at Safeco Field in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/Seattle Times/TNS)
Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino, left, and relief pitcher Marc Rzepczynski celebrate after the final out in a 7-6 win against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at Safeco Field in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/Seattle Times/TNS)

Ryan Divish

The Seattle Times

Marc Rzepczynski is no longer a member of the Mariners organization. He was officially released by the team on Wednesday afternoon and he’s now a free agent.

Realistically Rzepcyznski’s time with the Mariners was done when the team decided to designate the veteran left-hander for assignment last week. The odds of Rzepczynski staying with the organization and accepting an outright assignment to Class AAA Tacoma were slim. He had enough service time to refuse it and keep all of what was left on his contract. It was basically the formality of clearing waivers and turning down the outright assignment to get the release.

The Mariners will pay the remainder of the $5.5 million owed to him this season. Rzepczynski can sign with any team. Even with his struggles this season, he has enough of a track record of big league success the he will likely be picked up soon by another team. They would only have to pay him the league minimum to sign him with the Mariners paying his big league contract.

Rzepczynski, 32, was 0-1 with a 9.39 ERA (8 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings pitched) with 10 strikeouts and 9 walks in 18 relief appearances with the Mariners this season. Opposing batters were hitting .342 (13 for 38) against him this season. Even worse, when he was brought into face lefties, he often allowed them to reach base via walk or hit.