Elias is expected to finalize a contract with the Korea Baseball Organization's SSG Landers later this week, Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports.
The Landers have an opening on the roster for a foreign pitcher with Enny Romero battling a shoulder injury and having yet to pitch this season, and the KBO club appears to have set its sights on Elias to fill the opening. The 34-year-old lefty's ongoing negotiations with the Landers explain why the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate in Iowa placed Elias on its temporary inactive list over the weekend. After failing to win a spot on the Cubs' Opening Day roster, Elias has proceeded to turn in a 5.48 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB across 21.1 innings with Iowa.
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Cubs' Roenis Elias: Dismissed from bullpen competition
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The Cubs reassigned Elias to minor-league camp Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Elias, who had been attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee, unsurprisingly fell short of winning a spot in the Cubs' Opening Day bullpen after he was blitzed for six earned runs on 12 hits and two walks over 8.1 innings during Cactus League play. Unless he and the Cubs mutually agree to part ways, the 34-year-old southpaw will likely report to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2023 campaign.
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Cubs' Roenis Elias: Receives invite to big-league camp
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Elias signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Thursday and was invited to major-league spring training, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Elias appeared in seven games for Seattle last season and allowed three earned runs with a 6:3 K:BB in 7.2 innings. He spent most of the campaign at Triple-A Tacoma, where he struggled to a 5.12 ERA over 65 frames.
Elias cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Elias was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Monday, but he'll remain in the organization with the Triple-A club after going unclaimed on waivers. The southpaw has posted a 3.63 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 17.1 innings over 14 appearances (one start) in Tacoma this year, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him rejoin Seattle's bullpen at some point.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Removed from 40-man roster
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The Mariners designated Elias for assignment Monday.
Elias and fellow bullpen arm Sergio Romo both lost their spots on the 40-man roster with Seattle needing to reduce its pitching staff to 13 men ahead of Monday's MLB-imposed deadline while also needing to clear a spot for reliever Ken Giles (finger) to come off the 60-day injured list. Following his promotion from Triple-A Tacoma on May 27, Elias made six appearances out of the bullpen and gave up two earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six in 6.2 innings.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Makes rare appearance Friday
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Elias fired a scoreless ninth inning during which he allowed a hit in a win over the Angels on Friday.
The veteran left-hander has been sparingly deployed since a May 27 callup from Triple-A Tacoma, with Friday's appearance only his fifth since that point. Elias' days as a true high-leverage option seem to be behind him, but he's put together a serviceable 4.05 ERA across his first six majors appearances since the 2019 season..
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Especially sharp Tuesday
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Elias fired two scoreless innings in a win over the Orioles on Tuesday, allowing one hit and recording two strikeouts.
The veteran southpaw was razor-sharp in his first appearance since being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday, firing 21 of his 24 pitches for strikes. Elias already had one prior and brief big-league stint this season, and he could stick around for an extended period this time around as a valuable innings-eater that can also work higher-leverage scenarios if necessary.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Contract selected by Mariners
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Elias' contract was selected by the Mariners on Friday.
Elias spent most of spring training recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in March of 2021, but he was activated at Triple-A Tacoma in mid-April. Elias briefly joined the Mariners as a replacement player last week but has spent most of the season in Tacoma, where he posted a 3.63 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 17.1 innings over 14 appearances (one start). The southpaw converted 14 of 16 save chances for Seattle in 2019, but it seems most likely that he'll pitch mainly in lower-leverage situations to begin his current stint with the major-league club.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Heads back to Triple-A
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The Mariners returned Elias to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.
With Seattle activating Drew Steckenrider (personal) from the restricted list in a corresponding move, Elias will be removed from both the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster, though the Mariners won't have to expose him to waivers. After being called up from Tacoma earlier this week for his first stint in the big leagues since 2019, Elias made one relief appearance for Seattle, giving up an earned run on one hit and two walks over one inning during Monday's 6-2 loss to Toronto.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Gives up run in '22 debut
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Elias, called up from Triple-A Tacoma earlier in the day, allowed an earned run on one hit and two walks over an inning in a loss to the Blue Jays on Monday.
The veteran southpaw gave himself some extra work in his 2022 majors debut thanks to some control issues, but he ultimately escaped the eighth inning having allowed just one run on a Bo Bichette single. Elias may only remain with the Mariners through the end of the series against Toronto, since his call-up was a direct result of Drew Steckenrider going on the restricted list ahead of the Mariners crossing into Canada.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Summoned to majors
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The Mariners selected Elias' contract from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday.
He'll assume the 40-man roster spot of fellow reliever Drew Steckenrider (personal), who was placed on the restricted list in advance of the Mariners' three-game series in Toronto that begins Monday. Steckenrider will be eligible to rejoin the Mariners when they return to the United States for a four-game set in Boston beginning Thursday, so Elias' stint with the big club could be short-lived. After missing the entire 2020 and 2021 seasons with an elbow injury that later required Tommy John surgery, Elias was cleared to make his 2022 debut at Tacoma in mid-April. Over his 11 appearances with the affiliate spanning 14.2 innings, Elias turned in a 4.30 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Ready for 2022 debut
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Triple-A Tacoma activated Elias (elbow) from its 7-day injured list Tuesday, Tacoma broadcaster Mike Curto reports.
Elias looks ready to make his first appearance in affiliated ball since 2019, after the 2020 campaign was wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic before he spent the 2021 season in rehab mode following Tommy John surgery last March. The 33-year-old southpaw has made a remarkably quick recovery from the procedure, as he'll be cleared to pitch for Tacoma just under 13 months after having surgery. He'll likely need several outings to get his command back before the Mariners entertain the idea of calling him up.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Advances to live batting practice
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Elias (elbow) will throw live batting practice within the next few days, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Elias underwent Tommy John surgery in March of last year. He's back with the Mariners as a non-roster invitee, though he won't push for a big-league roster spot until later in the year.
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Roenis Elias: Let go by Seattle
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The Mariners released Elias (elbow) on March 25.
Elias was cut shortly after suffering an elbow injury that required season-ending Tommy John surgery. The 32-year-old is unlikely to be ready to pitch in games until the second half of the 2022 season.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Needs Tommy John surgery
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Elias (elbow) is scheduled to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery in the near future, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Mariners manager Scott Servais acknowledged Tuesday that Elias would require surgery on his elbow, but the skipper didn't specify what type of procedure was necessary. Sources familiar with Elias' injury have since indicated that the veteran left-hander is indeed headed for Tommy John surgery, which would keep him sidelined for the entire 2021 season, and likely, a good chunk of the 2022 campaign as well. Elias, who had attended camp as a non-roster invitee, was hoping to win a spot in the Mariners' Opening Day bullpen.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Undergoing unspecified surgery
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Elias (forearm) will undergo surgery, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Exactly what sort of procedure it will be is not yet clear, so it's difficult to say when he's expected to return. The veteran lefty missed all of last season with a left flexor strain but had been able to pitch in Cactus League action this spring before exiting with arm discomfort Thursday.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Managing serious arm issue
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Elias will see multiple doctors this week to determine next steps for his left elbow/forearm injury, which is considered serious, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.
The 32-year-old left Thursday's spring game due to the injury and could be looking at an extended absence, though the specifics of the issue remain unclear. Elias missed the entirety of last season due to a flexor strain in the same forearm, so another injury in the same area is a concerning development.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Has arm discomfort
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Elias has discomfort in his arm and will be evaluated Friday, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.
Elias left Thursday's Cactus League outing early after speaking to a trainer. There's no indication whether or for how long the injury will sideline Elias, though it could damage his chances of making the big-league roster.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Exits early with injury
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Elias exited his appearance in Thursday's spring training game with an apparent injury, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.
Elias had a conversation with the trainer prior to exiting the game, though no specifics of the injury are known yet. He's competing for a spot in the Mariners' bullpen as a non-roster invitee and has yet to allow a run through 2.1 frames this spring.
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Mariners' Roenis Elias: Strong in spring debut
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Elias (forearm), in spring training as a non-roster invitee, made his Cactus League debut against the White Sox on Friday and allowed one hit and no walks over a scoreless inning.
This isn't the southpaw's first tour of duty with the Mariners, having toed the rubber for Seattle in 2014, 2015, 2018 and part of 2019 before finishing the latter campaign with the World Series champion Nationals. Elias has been praised by manager Scott Servais as an excellent clubhouse presence who also can fill every conceivable role out of the bullpen and even start in a pinch. With a combined 7-3 record, 3.12 ERA, 14 saves and one hold across the 98 innings encompassing his most recent tenure with the team, Elias could well earn an Opening Day roster spot with a solid spring.
