The Mariners have released right-handed reliever Justin De Fratus, who was signed in the offseason to a Major League deal worth $750,000. With the move the Mariners spring training roster is now at 49 and the 40-man roster at 38.
The hope was De Fratus would bounce back from a disastrous 2015 and show something closer to the 2.39 ERA and 8.37 K/9 he did in 2014. Some of his struggles in 2015 were attributed to pitching more frequently and in longer outings. The Mariners were not looking at him as a setup man, however, and needed him to be able to go longer.