It’s been a relatively uneventful stretch for the Seattle Mariners in free agency, though one recent roster move is worth noting.
Mariners fans never had much of a chance to see right-handed pitcher in action. He owns just one major league appearance and did not pitch for Seattle at the big-league level last season. After being claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays in January, the pitcher spent the entire year with Triple-A Tacoma.
Because Seattle removed him from the 40-man roster in April, Danner became eligible to choose free agency in November. He has now officially moved on from the organization, signing a minor-league contract elsewhere.
According to his transaction history, Danner agreed to a minor-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday—nearly one year to the day after he joined the Mariners.
Now 27, Danner was selected by the Blue Jays in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Huntington Beach, California. Originally drafted as a catcher, he spent his first three professional seasons behind the plate before transitioning to pitching in 2021.
That switch appeared to revive his career, as Danner posted a 2.02 ERA as a reliever at High-A that same year and later made his major league debut in 2023. Despite generally solid minor-league results, he has thrown only seven total pitches in the majors.
This past season with Tacoma marked the toughest minor-league campaign of his career. Pitching in the offense-heavy Pacific Coast League, Danner recorded a 5.59 ERA over 56 1/3 innings, striking out 54 batters while allowing 64 hits, including nine home runs.
While it’s unlikely Danner will play a significant role for Cincinnati, any eventual major league opportunity with the Reds will likely draw some attention from the Mariners.
