Mariners trade for LHP Caleb Ferguson, bring up slugger Tyler Locklear

The Seattle Mariners bolstered their bullpen by acquiring veteran left-hander Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates in one of several roster moves on Wednesday.
The Pirates received minor league right-hander Jeter Martinez, rated a top-30 prospect in the Seattle organization by MLB Pipeline (No. 13) and Baseball America (No. 22).
The Mariners made room on the roster for Ferguson, 29, by reinstating right-hander Collin Snider from the 15-day injured list and designating him for assignment.
Ferguson is 2-2 with a 3.74 ERA, 14 walks and 34 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings over 45 relief appearances this season. He has a career record of 21-15 with six saves, a 3.69 ERA, 121 walks and 348 strikeouts in 305 innings over 308 games (14 starts) with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2018-20, 2022-23), New York Yankees (2024), Houston Astros (2024) and Pirates.
“We are excited to add Caleb and fortify our bullpen down the stretch,” said Justin Hollander, the Mariners’ executive vice president and general manager of baseball operations. “He’s been one of the most reliable left-handed relievers in the game and adds postseason experience to our group.”
Seattle also placed outfielder Luke Raley on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Sunday, due to back spasms. The team recalled slugging first baseman Tyler Locklear, its No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline, from Triple-A Tacoma.
Raley last played on July 24 in a 4-2 win at the Los Angeles Angels. He is batting .220 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in only 49 games while dealing with injuries.
He is a career .235 hitter with 48 homers and 133 RBIs in 359 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2021), Tampa Bay Rays (2022-23) and Mariners (2024-present).
The Mariners selected Locklear in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of VCU. The rookie made his major league debut in 2024, when he batted .156 (7-for-45) with two home runs and three RBIs in 16 games.
This season, Locklear, 24, is batting .316 at Tacoma with 19 homers, 82 RBIs, a .401 on-base percentage and .542 slugging percentage in 98 games.
The reigning Pacific Coast League Player of the Year was pulled in the fifth inning of Tacoma’s game against Sugar Land on Tuesday, leading to incorrect speculation that Locklear was in the process of being traded. Instead, he was being promoted.
Martinez, 19, is 2-6 with a 6.18 ERA, 38 walks and 60 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings over 16 starts for Single-A Modesto.
Snider, 29, was 2-1 with a 5.47 ERA, six walks and 24 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings over 24 relief appearances before he was placed on the injured list on June 4. He is a career 9-7 with one save, a 4.48 ERA, 47 walks and 104 strikeouts in 122 2/3 innings over 128 games (one start) for the Kansas City Royals (2022-23) and Mariners (2024-25).