Mariners News & Notes: Taylor Ward Scuffles, Blue Jays Claim Paul Sewald, Andrew Knizner Joins Giants
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The Mariners' acquisition of Taylor Ward hasn’t exactly been what they’ve expected. Instead of giving their lineup an immediate lift, they’ve received anything but.
Ward has played eight games since joining Seattle and produced five hits in 29 at-bats. He has scored once, struck out six times and generated zero home runs, zero RBIs and zero walks. His batting average and on-base percentage are both sitting at .172.
We can skip the grand search for hidden positives. He just hasn’t been good.
Taylor Ward Has Yet to Give the Mariners What They Needed
Eight games is a cup of coffee. At the same time, it’s eight games the Mariners can’t take back with the way their season is sliding.
The Mariners acquired Ward from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline to deepen a lineup that needed more professional at-bats. The Mariners gave up three minor-league pitchers, Alex Hoppe, Brock Moore and Harrison Kreiling, to bring him to Seattle.
The lack of power is disappointing, but that isn’t a surprise. Ward has really lacked pop most of the 2026 season. The absence of a single walk may be the most frustrating.
Ward was supposed to bring patience and stability to an offense that too often helps opposing pitchers escape uncomfortable situations. Instead, he has spent his first week expanding Seattle’s collection of harmless at-bats. A .172 OBP does nothing for the hitters behind him.
It would be easy to declare the trade a failure so soon. But Ward still has time to become the hitter Seattle expected. The problem is that the Mariners don’t have much time to spare.
Blue Jays Claim Former Mariners Closer Paul Sewald
Paul Sewald gets to pitch again, but this time in Toronto. The Blue Jays claimed Sewald off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving the 36-year-old reliever another opportunity to help a team trying to climb back into the wild-card race.
Sewald remains one of the best development stories of the Jerry Dipoto era. Across parts of three seasons with the Mariners, he recorded a 2.88 ERA and 52 saves before being traded to Arizona in 2023.
The waiver claim shouldn’t create any regret for the fanbase. His best seasons are behind him, and Toronto is making a low-cost bet on his experience.
Andrew Knizner Finds His Way Back to San Francisco
Andrew Knizner’s Mariners career barely existed. The M’s signed the veteran catcher to a one-year major-league contract during the offseason, giving him an opportunity to compete for the backup job behind Cal Raleigh. That spot ended up going to Mitch Garver, and Knizner was released before Opening Day.
Now he’s circling back to familiar territory. The Giants signed Knizner to a major-league contract and DFA’d utility player Eddys Leonard.
Knizner played 33 games for San Francisco in 2025 before briefly passing through the Mariners, Rockies and Red Sox organizations. His return to the Giants is a depth move for a club looking for another experienced catcher.
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Tremayne Person is the Publisher for Mariners On SI and the Site Expert at Friars on Base, with additional bylines across FanSided’s MLB division. He founded the Keep It Electric podcast in 2023 and covers baseball with a blend of analysis, context, and a little well-timed side-eye just to keep things honest. Tremayne grew up a Mariners fan in Richmond, Va., and that passion ultimately led him to move to Seattle to cover the team closely and become a regular at home games. Through his writing, he connects with fans who want a deeper, more personal understanding of the game. When he’s not at T-Mobile Park, he’s with his dog, gaming, or finding the next storyline worth digging into.
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