PEORIA, Ariz. -- For Justin De Fratus, last year was a season of survival with the Phillies. The 28- year-old reliever says he realized by June that he wasn't pitching the way he wanted, but kept grinding out innings as best he could.
The result was a disappointing 5.51 ERA in 80 innings over 61 outings from a right-hander who'd been a standout for Philadelphia the prior two years. But De Fratus says he knew what needed fixing. He just needed extended time to work things out and a new team to believe in him -- and he feels he's found both with a Mariners club that overhauled its bullpen under new general manager Jerry Dipoto.