The mercurial rise from solid starting pitching prospect, to converted reliever, to flame-throwing big league set-up man to taking over as the Mariners’ closer occurred in just five quick months last season for Edwin Diaz.
After a brilliant showing in the World Baseball Classic, Diaz was locked into the role and figured to be the Mariners closer of the foreseeable future.
A month and a half into the 2017 season, he has been demoted from the closing role.
On Tuesday — a day after Diaz’s non-striking throwing implosion against the A’s — Mariners manager Scott Servais that a change was being made.