Seattle Mariners Sign Right-Handed Reliever Zach Pop to Minor League Contract

The Mariners added to their staff at Triple-A Tacoma by signing the four-year veteran.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Zach Pop throws during a spring training game against the New York Yankees on Feb. 22 at TD Ballpark. | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Seattle Mariners' bullpen has been one of the most-utilized units in the major leagues through the first month of the season due to several high-scoring games and uncharacteristic early disappointing outings from the starting rotation.

The Mariners have had to pick up relievers from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers to help cover for the bullpen's high usage. Now, Seattle has made a move to help bolster the reliever depth at the minor league level.

The Mariners signed 2017 seventh-round draft pick and four-year major league veteran Zach Pop to a minor league contract on Wednesday.

Pop was dealing with right elbow inflammation and was out of options, leading to him being designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays on March 27.

ROSTER MOVES:

🔹 RHP Jacob Barnes and OFs Alan Roden and Myles Straw selected to the MLB roster

🔹 RHPs Ryan Burr and Erik Swanson placed on the 15-day IL

🔹 OF Daulton Varsho placed on the 10-day IL

🔹 RHPs Tommy Nance, Zach Pop and Nick Robertson DFA’d pic.twitter.com/XS4muI6Uzo

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 27, 2025

Pop was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers but made his major league debut with the Miami Marlins in April 2021.. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 2, 2022.

Pop made 90 major league appearances for the Blue Jays in his two-plus seasons with the organization. Pop made 58 of those outings last season. He had a 5.59 ERA and struck out 33 batters in 48.1 innings pitched.

Pop generated a chase rate of 31.4%, which ranked in the 79th percentile of the league, according to Baseball Savant. His groundball rate of 55.5% ranked in the 93rd percentile in the league.

Seattle recently selected the contract of 37-year-old reliever Casey Lawrence and optioned second-year reliever Troy Taylor back to Tacoma. The Mariners also will get a big boost to the major league bullpen in the coming days when Matt Brash is activated off the injured list.

Having an experienced reliever in Pop with the Rainiers could help Seattle if it gets in another pinch with the relievers.

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