Miranda signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Korea Baseball Organization's Doosan Bears on Wednesday, Jee-ho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports.
Miranda made 44 appearances (40 starts) with the Orioles and Mariners from 2016 through 2018, logging a 4.72 ERA and 7.5 K/9 over 223 innings. Since being released by the Mariners in the summer of 2018, Miranda has bounced around Asia, pitching in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and the Chinese Professional Baseball League over the past two years. With the 31-year-old now headed to a new destination in Asia, he shouldn't be expected to resurface in MLB anytime soon.
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Ariel Miranda: Released by Seattle
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Miranda was released by the Mariners on Wednesday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Per Divish, Seattle cut Miranda loose to allow him to sign with a team in Japan. He only made one start with the big-league club in 2018, which came back in mid-April against the White Sox. Prior to this transaction, he had only appeared in two games with Triple-A Tacoma during the month of June and was placed on the temporary inactive list by the Rainiers last Thursday. Across 31 appearances -- 29 starts-- with the Mariners last year, he logged a 5.12 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. This move opens up a spot on Seattle's 40-man roster.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Likely won't get Wednesday callup
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Miranda, who notched his third minor-league victory Sunday in Triple-A Tacoma's win over Sacramento, is no longer a candidate to be called up to the Mariners for a Wednesday spot start.
The Cuban southpaw threw 105 pitches, allowing one earned run on four hits and four walks over five innings while also recording three strikeouts. The fact he took the mound and put in a robust workload takes Miranda out of the running as a candidate to fill the Mariners' need for a Wednesday spot starter versus the Rangers, considering he'd be taking the mound on an untenable two days' rest.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Struggling back in Triple-A
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Miranda has recorded 10 strikeouts but has also allowed six earned runs on 10 hits and eight walks over 8.2 innings in his first two starts since returning to Triple-A Tacoma on April 18.
The control-challenged left-hander now has an unsightly 5.09 ERA and has generated a 17:13 K:BB over his four starts with the Rainiers in 2018. Miranda fared much better in his one major-league spot start this season, allowing an earned run on six hits over five innings versus the Astros. The scouting report on Miranda appears largely unchanged from last season, as he continues to get himself into trouble with his propensity for putting runners on. The major-league rotation seems set now that Erasmo Ramirez has returned from a lat injury, but Miranda could receive a callup again at some point this season if injuries strike.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Optioned to Tacoma
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Miranda was sent back to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday.
In a corresponding move, the Mariners activated Ben Gamel (oblique) from the 10-day disabled list. Miranda was called up from Tacoma on Tuesday in order to make a spot start against the Astros. The right-hander allowed just one earned run while striking out five over five innings during his first big-league outing of the 2018 campaign. Miranda will continue to serve as organizational depth for Seattle's rotation.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Allows one earned run Tuesday
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Miranda allowed one earned run on six hits while walking four and striking out five across five innings Tuesday against the Astros. He did not factor into the decision.
Miranda did not have a dominant start by any means -- he allowed 10 baserunners in five innings-- but surrendered only one extra-base hit and relied on timely strikeouts and double plays to escape the start having allowed only one earned run. The outing was his season debut at the major-league level, but his stay in Seattle could be short-lived with Erasmo Ramirez (lat) approaching a return from the disabled list.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Called up ahead of start
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Miranda was called up from Triple-A Tacoma ahead of his start Tuesday against the Astros.
The move was an expected one, as Miranda's start has been scheduled for over a week. The lefty's stay on the big-league roster could be a short one, as Erasmo Ramirez (lat) appears to be on track to be activated from the disabled list over the weekend. In a corresponding move, Taylor Motter was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Set for April 17 start
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Miranda, whose opportunity for an April 11 spot start was nullified after the Mariners adjusted their starting rotation, is now scheduled to be called up from Triple-A Tacoma to face the Astros on April 17, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
As currently scheduled, Miranda would be starting the second game of the four-game set versus Houston. It was believed at one point that Erasmo Ramirez (lat) might be ready to make his 2018 debut by that date, but the Mariners will continue to bring him along slowly, creating a need for Miranda to fill the No. 5 role for the time being when necessary.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Unlikely for spot start this week
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Miranda isn't expected to be recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to start Wednesday against the Royals after the Mariners adjusted their rotation following a postponement Sunday, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.
After inclement weather in Minnesota prevented Marco Gonzales from taking the hill Sunday, he'll simply be pushed back a day in the schedule and start Monday against the Royals, with Felix Hernandez and James Paxton set to start the final two games of the series. Thanks to an off-day Thursday, the Mariners will be able to keep all four of their starting pitchers on their normal rest until April 17 against the Astros. That date now looks like the Miranda's new target for rejoining the big club, though those plans could change if Erasmo Ramirez (lat) is ready to come off the disabled list by that time.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Notches win in minors Friday
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Miranda, who's slated to start next Wednesday's game against the Royals, recorded five strikeouts and allowed five runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks over five innings in High-A Modesto's win over Lancaster on Friday.
The lefty was done in by a couple of errors, including one of his own doing. The appearance was essentially a tuneup for next Wednesday's start, when Miranda will look to start building on a mixed-bag 2017 campaign that saw him post an 8-7 record that was offset by a bloated 5.12 ERA.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: In line to start April 11 game
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Miranda will be called up from Triple-A Tacoma and take the hill when the Mariners first require a fifth starter April 11 against the Royals, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
There had been some thought coming out of spring training that Erasmo Ramirez (lat) might be ready to return from the disabled list to join the rotation April 11, but manager Scott Servais essentially dismissed that notion after the right-hander tossed a simulated game Tuesday. Though Ramirez came out of the outing without any issues, Servais said the pitcher would be capped at around 35 pitches in a rehab assignment over the weekend and build up to 75-to-80 pitches over at least two starts to follow before coming off the DL, likely toward the end of April. That seemingly puts Miranda in line for at least two turns in the rotation, which may make him worthy of a short-term pickup in AL-only formats where he's available.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Headed to minors
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The Mariners optioned Miranda to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday, TJ Cotterill of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.
Though he'll begin the season in the minors, Miranda could rejoin the big club to fill the vacancy in its rotation April 11, when the Mariners would first require a fifth starter. Even if Miranda receives the appointment, he may not stick around for long after proving highly ineffective while occupying a starting role for Seattle much of last season. The left-hander posted a 5.12 ERA and ceded 37 home runs in 160 frames in 2017.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Rotation chances improved with Whalen demotion
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Miranda's chances of opening the season as the fifth starter increased with the Monday demotion of Rob Whalen to Triple-A Tacoma, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. "Miranda has done it before," manager Scott Servais said. "He's the guy with the experience. He's the guy that will probably get the first shot at coming up and filling that spot."
The experience Servais refers to primarily comes in the form of a 31-game sample with the Mariners in 2017, one in which Miranda compiled an 8-7 record, 5.12 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. With Erasmo Ramirez still recovering from a lat injury, the spot apparently has a high likelihood of going to the left-hander, who probably won't be on the initial iteration of the 25-man roster since the Mariners won't need a fifth starter until April 11.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Takes positive step in latest start
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Miranda (1-0) allowed two earned runs on five hits and a walk over four innings in a 6-2 Cactus League win over the Athletics on Thursday. He struck out four.
Chad Pinder and Matt Chapman combined to tag Miranda for a trio of two-baggers, with the latter's pair of doubles leading to both of the runs the southpaw allowed. He was otherwise sharp during what was a spring-high amount of innings, notching four whiffs for the second straight outing. Miranda remains in contention for the fifth and final spot in the rotation to open the season, and Thursday's outing figures to have helped his case.
Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Adds slider to repertoire
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Miranda, who is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, has reintroduced a slider into his arsenal of pitches, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports. "I started working on the slider last year and it worked well," Miranda said in Spanish. "I mean, I always had it, but I didn't throw it very much because in Cuba, you don't throw it or need it. It was just fastball and changeup. You can't do that here in the major leagues."
The 28-year-old was fastball-heavy last season, throwing the pitch on 1,969 occasions according to Statcast, while adding 692 breaking balls. Miranda has been fine-tuning the grip on the slider, which he's been experimenting with since the start of spring. The results thus far have been mixed -- he's allowed four earned runs on 10 hits and five walks over eight exhibition frames, while also recording eight strikeouts. The southpaw is hoping the addition of a new pitch will help his bid to stick on the Opening Day roster and improve on the 5.12 ERA he generated across 160 innings in his rookie campaign a year ago.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: May crack rotation to start season
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Miranda could open the season as the Mariners' fifth starter if Erasmo Ramirez (lat) isn't ready for Opening Day, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
At this point, it seems like Ramirez won't be ready for Opening Day, but the Mariners don't actually need a fifth starter for the first couple weeks of the season due to the placement of their off-days. The Mariners could still opt to go with a five-man rotation, however, which could open the door for Miranda to crack the rotation once again. The southpaw struggled last season to the tune of a 5.12 ERA, but he's shown some improvement in two spring starts and could boost his stock with a few more good appearances, the next which is scheduled for Saturday against the Reds. According to Greg Johns of MLB.com, Miranda also threw the ball extremely well in a 40-pitch outing against minor leaguers Monday. Andrew Moore would also be in the conversation for the final rotation spot.
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Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Role uncertain heading into spring
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Miranda is competing for a spot in the back end of the team's rotation this spring, but will likely wind up being utilized as a depth piece out of the Mariners' bullpen in 2018, Shannon Drayer of mynorthwest.com reports.
Manager Scott Servais said Miranda needs to work on secondary pitches after giving up 37 home runs in 160 innings last year. The southpaw started 29 games for the team in 2017 but was moved into a relief role in mid-September after struggling during the latter stages of the campaign. Marco Gonzales seems to have the inside track for the final spot in the rotation, which will leave Miranda and Andrew Moore on the outside looking in. If that is the case, expect to see Miranda as a middle reliever for the 2018 season.
Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Could see more relief appearances over final week
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Miranda, who gave up five earned runs on four hits and a walk over an inning in his most recent appearance versus the Indians on Saturday, could log additional relief outings during the season's final week, Josh Horton of MLB.com reports.
The Cuban southpaw has sputtered over his last six starts, generating a 6.81 ERA and allowing 11 home runs and a .383 wOBA in 37 innings during that span. Miranda has allowed a majors-high 37 round trippers overall while making a team-high 29 starts. Manager Scott Servais has already determined that Miranda won't log another start, but he also doesn't want to shut him down altogether for the final week, hence the possibility of him making a couple of relief appearances as the season winds down.
