Mariners' Trade Backfires as Reliever Struggles with Poor Infield Defense

Seattle's acquisition of lefty Jose A. Ferrer has been hampered by the team's defensive woes.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:09am

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The Seattle Mariners made an offseason trade to acquire left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer from the Washington Nationals, hoping to bolster their bullpen. However, Ferrer's reliance on inducing ground balls has been undermined by the Mariners' subpar infield defense, leading to a 6.00 ERA for the pitcher despite an expected ERA of just 1.73.

Why it matters

The Mariners' defensive issues have negatively impacted their ability to get the most out of Ferrer, a ground ball specialist, highlighting the importance of roster construction and how a team's strengths and weaknesses can affect the performance of individual players.

The details

Ferrer, acquired from the Nationals in the offseason, has yet to give up a barrel or walk a batter this season. However, his reliance on generating soft contact and ground balls has been hindered by the Mariners' infield defense, which is among the worst in the league. This mismatch between Ferrer's pitching style and the team's defensive capabilities has led to his inflated 6.00 ERA, despite his expected ERA of just 1.73.

  • The Mariners made the trade to acquire Ferrer during the 2025-26 offseason.
  • Ferrer has struggled with a 6.00 ERA through the first few weeks of the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Jose A. Ferrer

A left-handed relief pitcher acquired by the Seattle Mariners from the Washington Nationals in the offseason.

Harry Ford

A player the Mariners traded to the Nationals in order to acquire Ferrer.

Anderson Hirst

A Seattle sports reporter who has covered the Mariners' defensive issues and their impact on Ferrer's performance.

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What they’re saying

“According to Statcast: He has a 1.73 xERA, has yet to give up a barrel and has yet to walk anybody. He's a guy who gives up soft contact and ground balls, which relies on defense to get results, and the Mariners infield defense is among the worst in the league.”

— Anderson Hirst, Seattle sports reporter

What’s next

The Mariners will need to address their defensive shortcomings, particularly in the infield, in order to get the most out of Ferrer and other ground ball-inducing pitchers on their roster.

The takeaway

The Mariners' trade for Jose A. Ferrer has been hindered by the team's poor infield defense, highlighting the importance of roster construction and how a team's strengths and weaknesses can impact the performance of individual players.