The Seattle Mariners have made a move to strengthen their bullpen for the stretch run, acquiring veteran left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, July 30. In return, the Pirates will receive 19-year-old minor league right-handed pitcher Jeter Martinez, adding a high-upside arm to their farm system.
Ferguson, 29, provides the Mariners with a much-needed reliable southpaw to complement Gabe Speier in their relief corps. In his lone season with the Pirates, Ferguson has been a steady presence, posting a 3.74 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP across 43.1 innings in 45 appearances. While his strikeout rate of 19.3% is lower than his career average, his true value this season has been his elite ability to induce weak contact.
According to reports, Ferguson leads all Major League pitchers (with a minimum of 40 innings pitched) with an average exit velocity against of just 83.5 mph. His 25.2% hard-hit rate is the second-best in baseball. This has translated into exceptional results, particularly against left-handed hitters, who have managed just a .167/.257/.182 slash line against him in 74 plate appearances. He has also been effective against right-handers, holding them to a .250/.327/.354 line. Having allowed only one home run all season, he fits the profile of a pitcher who can succeed in Seattle’s pitcher-friendly park.
The move marks another stop for the well-traveled Ferguson. Originally a 38th-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014, he has overcome two Tommy John surgeries in his career. After spending parts of six seasons with the Dodgers, he was traded to the New York Yankees and then the Houston Astros during the 2024 season. He signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Pirates in January and is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2025 season, making him a classic rental for a contending Mariners team.
For the Pirates, the trade aligns with a strategy of leveraging present assets for future potential. They receive Jeter Martinez, a 6-foot-4 right-hander signed out of Mexico for a $600,000 bonus in the 2022-23 international signing period. While Martinez has struggled at the Low-A level this year with a 6.18 ERA and a high walk rate of 13.2%, his raw talent is undeniable. He possesses a mid-90s fastball that can reach triple digits and secondary pitches that project as plus offerings.
Despite his current control issues, Martinez was ranked as a top-25 prospect in a deep Mariners system by multiple outlets, including FanGraphs (15th) and Baseball America (22nd). The Pirates are betting on their player development system to refine his command and unlock his potential as a future rotation piece or a high-leverage reliever. With Martinez not needing to be added to the 40-man roster for more than two years, Pittsburgh has ample time to work with their new prospect.
Ultimately, the trade serves the distinct goals of both clubs. The Mariners acquire a proven, cost-effective reliever to immediately address a bullpen need for their playoff push, while the Pirates successfully turn a short-term free-agent signing into a promising long-term asset.
