The Seattle Mariners have added a veteran who has pitched in the major leagues this season as a potential bullpen depth option, signing former All-Star and American League Rookie of the Year winner Michael Fulmer to a minor league contract.

Playoff Race: Mariners lucky rough road trip doesn’t hurt too much

Fulmer signed with the Mariners on Tuesday, per the MILB.com transactions page, and has been assigned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.

In 33 appearances with three different Triple-A teams this year, Fulmer has a 3.98 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .230 opponent batting average, and 68 strikeouts to 24 walks over 54 1/3 innings.

The 32-year-old right-hander has also made three MLB appearances this year: a pair of scoreless outings over three innings with the Cubs, and one appearance with the Red Sox where he allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings.

A first-round pick by the New York Mets in 2011, Fulmer had a strong start to his MLB career as a member of the Detroit Tigers starting rotation. He won American League Rookie of the Year honors in 2016 and was an All-Star in 2017.

Fulmer missed the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery and struggled upon his return in 2020. He then converted to a bullpen role for the Tigers in 2021, which included a run as the team’s closer, logging 14 saves that season.

In midseason 2022, Fulmer was traded to the Minnesota Twins, then spent 2023 with the Chicago Cubs. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing UCL revision surgery.

The Mariners become the fourth team that Fulmer has spent time with in 2025. He began the season with the Red Sox organization, went to the Cubs in April, then the Royals in July. He was released from the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate, on Saturday.

Fulmer becomes the 15th member of the Rainiers pitching staff with MLB experience.

The Mariners’ bullpen could be in need of reinforcements coming off a rough road trip in which the M’s went 2-7. Seattle’s starting pitchers averaged just five innings per start over the nine-game trip.

Luckily for the M’s, they have Thursday off before beginning a six-game homestand with a 7:10 p.m. game Friday against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park. Radio coverage on Seattle Sports will begin at 6 p.m. with the pregame show.

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