 The Seattle Mariners are set to re-sign left-hander Josh Fleming to a minor league contract, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. As part of the deal, Fleming will receive an invitation to major league Spring Training.
Fleming, who will turn 29 in May, rejoined the Mariners in August on a minor league deal. He made 19 appearances for their Triple-A affiliate, posting a 4.50 ERA over nine innings. Despite not being added to the roster and becoming a free agent at the end of the season, Fleming has circled back to the Mariners on a fresh deal. A versatile pitcher, Fleming has played a swingman role in the past five major league seasons, primarily with the Tampa Bay Rays but also with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his career, he has appeared in 80 major league games, including 25 starts, and pitched a total of 254 2/3 innings with a 4.77 ERA. His strikeout rate of 14.6% is below average, but his strong 7.5% walk rate and impressive 58.4% ground ball rate make him a valuable depth piece. Although the Mariners have a strong rotation, their depth has some concerns. Fleming provides additional depth for both the rotation and bullpen without taking up a roster spot. If he gets added to the roster at any point, he is out of options but could be retained into future seasons through arbitration.
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