Seattle Mariners reliever Casey Sadler could also help the Colorado Rockies bullpen
Casey Sadler is another reliever that was, essentially, on the scrap heap before the Seattle Mariners picked him up (but in Sadler’s case, in 2020) and in 2021, he had a great season for them. He could also be an asset for the Colorado Rockies.
Sadler, 31, has bounced around a lot as he has played with five teams in the majors in parts of six seasons.
In 2021, he made 42 appearances with the Mariners and he only allowed three earned runs in 40 1/3 innings, for an ERA of 0.67. He had a FIP of 2.48, a WHIP of 0.719, a walk rate of 2.2 BB/9, and a strikeout rate of 8.3 K/9.
He could be an asset for the Rockies as he is a big groundball pitcher. Among relievers with at least 100 innings pitched since 2019, Sadler’s groundball percentage of 53 percent is the 20th-highest in baseball. In addition, it was even higher in 2021 when he pitched so well (62.9 percent).
Sadler is also from Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Rockies have long been fans of their Oklahomans, whether they have been born, went to high school in, and/or went to college in Oklahoma. They include Jon Gray, Jeff Salazar, Cory Sullivan, Ryan Vilade, Chi Chi González, and Matt Holliday, who also is from Stillwater (but a different high school).
He is arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason and projected to get about $1.3 million.