Niese was released by the Mariners on Monday, Mike Curto of the Tacoma Rainiers broadcast booth reports.
Niese appeared in nine games for Triple-A Tacoma in 2019, posting a 5.12 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with a 38:24 K:BB over 70.1 innings. He hasn't surfaced in the big leagues since the 2016 season, across stops with the Mets and the Pirates.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jon Niese: Candidate for spot start
Rotowire
Niese, who's 3-1 with a 4.68 ERA over seven appearances (six starts) at Triple-A Tacoma, is a candidate to be called up and make a spot start Tuesday against the Astros in place of Yusei Kikuchi, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
The veteran southpaw last took the hill for the Rainiers in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday, so he'd be on his usual amount of rest if called up. Niese's last major-league appearance came in 2016 with the Mets, a season he finished with a 5.50 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 121 innings.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Jon Niese: Signs with Mariners
Rotowire
Niese signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
Niese will report to Triple-A Tacoma. The veteran right-hander hasn't pitched in the majors since 2016, when he posted a combined 5.50 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 121 innings with the Mets and Pirates.
... See More... See Less
Jon Niese: Opts for independent baseball
Rotowire
Niese signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball on Wednesday, Jordan Lauterbach of Newsday reports.
The nine-year MLB veteran hasn't pitched in two seasons and last surfaced with the Rangers, who cut him in spring training prior to the start of the 2018 season. The 32-year-old had a career 4.07 ERA and collected 197 major-league starts. Niese will have to impress in the Atlantic League in order to get a chance at another major-league contract.
... See More... See Less
Jon Niese: Cut loose by Texas
Rotowire
Niese (shoulder) was released by the Rangers on Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Niese is expected to be sidelined for the next 4-to-6 weeks due to a shoulder strain, so it was highly unlikely that he would make the team out of camp as things stood. The Rangers opted to simply cut ties with the veteran, leaving him to rehab on his own. He'll likely need to prove he's healthy before he can land another contract. Niese didn't pitch an inning for the Rangers, but he does hold a 4.07 ERA in his nine-year big-league career.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jon Niese: Dealing with strained shoulder
Rotowire
Niese is dealing with a strained muscle in his left shoulder and will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks as a result, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.
It's unclear when Niese picked up the injury, but the issue is serious enough to keep him sidelined past Opening Day. Given he's a non-roster invitee, it's unclear what the Rangers plan to do with him at this point. Regardless, Niese was expected to open the season in the minors as organizational pitching depth.
... See More... See Less
Rangers' Jon Niese: Invited to Rangers camp
Rotowire
Niese signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday which includes an invitation to spring training, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports.
Niese didn't pitch in affiliated baseball in 2017 after failing to break camp with the Yankees. He last appeared in the majors in 2016, when he struggled to a 5.50 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 121 innings with the Mets and Pirates. The southpaw will get a shot to make the Rangers' Opening Day roster, but he seems more likely to serve as organizational pitching depth in 2018.
