Six-Year MLB Veteran Joins Mariners After Injury News

To fill in for Robles, Seattle turned to Joe, a 33-year-old who signed with the organization on a minor league deal in February. The six-year veteran has spent time with the San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds, carrying a career .239 batting average with 35 home runs. He has not been played in an MLB game since July 30 last season, as a member of the Reds. Now, he gets a chance to make his mark in 2026. 

Despite a strong spring, Joe slashed .340/.411/.560 over 20 spring training games but fell short of a big-league roster spot. He carried that momentum into his time at Triple-A Tacoma, where he batted .235 with one home run and four RBI in nine games before the promotion. 

Joe took over at first base in Wednesday’s series finale against the Texas Rangers, giving regular first baseman Josh Naylor a rest day. His defensive versatility, having played all three outfield spots and first base, gives the Mariners some flexibility off the bench. 

In a corresponding move, the Mariners transferred right-hander Carlos Vargas from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain, clearing the 40-man roster spot for Joe. Vargas won’t be able to make a return to the team until at least the end of May. He posted a 3.97 ERA across 70 games for Seattle last season. 

With Robles sidelined for at least 10 days and Vargas out until June at the earliest, Joe’s ability to handle multiple positions will be tested quickly. His strong spring performances suggest that he may be ready to contribute immediately at the big-league level, but this is a roster built around depth, and right now, that is exactly what Seattle needs.