Ray, who threw his first bullpen and live batting practice sessions with the Mariners earlier in the week, has already made an impression on his new teammates with his pitch arsenal and intensity, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports. "He's a pretty intense guy," catcher Tom Murphy said. "We see him floating around here, he hasn't said much to everybody, but you can tell he's all business."
Ray gave several of his new teammates an up-close look at the pitches that helped garner him the AL Cy Young award last season, impressing the likes of Steven Souza, Jarred Kelenic and Murphy with his fastball and slider. The veteran southpaw's approach and path to success has also caught the eye of manager Scott Servais, who noted Ray has been persistent throughout the years in experimenting with a variety of deliveries until finding the right fit. The Mariners made their heaviest investment in a player yet during president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto's seven-year tenure when they gave Ray a $115 million contract this winter, with the expectation he'll serve as the clear-cut piece at the top of the rotation.