Mariners and Dodgers each announce left-hander acquired by Seattle Robinson Ortiz in exchange for a minor league right-hander Taylor Goff.
Neither player has any major league experience, but this trade may be more about the Dodgers looking to free up a spot on their 40-man roster. Tuesday is the deadline for teams to finalize their rosters before the Rule 5 Draft, and Friday is the non-tender deadline, making for a very busy week ahead.
Interestingly, just 10 days ago, Los Angeles added Ortiz’s contract to the 40-man roster, but the Dodgers have now changed their policy and sent Ortiz to Seattle. Los Angeles currently has 38 of its 40 roster spots filled, while the Mariners have at least 39 spots addressed and could fill 40, depending on when Josh NaylorThe new contract officially comes into effect.
Ortiz (who turns 26 in January) had spent his entire career with the Dodgers before today’s trade. Between the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season and multiple injury issues, Ortiz pitched just 22 2/3 innings over five years from 2020-24, but the 2025 season represents a return to some relative normalcy. The lefty posted a 2.73 ERA and 28.3% strikeout rate in 59 1/3 total innings at three different minor league levels, with Ortiz making his debut at the Double-A and Triple-A levels last year.
A nasty slider/sink combination resulted in Ortiz striking out multiple times, though control remains an issue, as evidenced by his 13.2% walk rate in 2025. Seattle’s left-handed pitching is noticeably weak because Gabe Speyer Currently the only lefty in the Mariners bullpen mix next year. Ortiz adds some depth in that area, and if Ortiz can cut down on free throws, he seems to have a lot of upside as a relief weapon.
Goff, the Mariners’ ninth-round pick in the 2022 draft, posted a 4.66 ERA in 125 2/3 innings in Class A Modesto in 2023-24, making 32 of his 33 career starts. Tommy John surgery in September 2024 will keep Goff off the mound, but with TJ’s usual recovery schedule, the right-hander should be ready for a healthy spring training in February.
