The Seattle Mariners completed a trade with the Cincinnati Reds this week. In the deal, the Mariners acquired right-handed reliever Yosver Zulueta in exchange for minor league pitcher Dusty Revis. As part of the transaction, Seattle also designated Samad Taylor for assignment. The move allowed the team to make space for Zulueta on the club’s 40-man roster.
Yosver Zulueta Joins the Seattle Mariners
Zulueta was designated for assignment by the Reds following their acquisition of veteran reliever Pierce Johnson, making him available to Seattle. The 26-year-old has seen limited time at the major league level. He appeared in just 19 games across his last two seasons with Cincinnati.
In that time, Zulueta has posted a 5.32 ERA. However, his results do not fully reflect his true potential. He has struck out 24.8% of opposing hitters while generating a 54% ground-ball rate. Both positive indicators for a power reliever. Control remains Zulueta’s greatest concern, as his 10.9% walk rate sits above league average.
Zulueta becomes the sixth reliever added to the Mariners’ 40-man roster this offseason. He joins José A. Ferrer, Alex Hoppe, Ryan Loutos, Robinson Ortiz, and Cole Wilcox. This addition suggests that Seattle is continuing to prioritize depth while evaluating potential bullpen roles ahead of the season.
Zulueta operates with a four-pitch mix, throwing a sinker, four-seam fastball, slider, and changeup. His sinker and four-seamer both sit in the mid-to-upper 90s, giving him solid velocity, while his slider and changeup typically come in at the mid-to-high 80s.
During the 2025 season, Zulueta appeared in seven games, going 1–0 with a 6.14 ERA over 7 1/3 innings. He walked four hitters and struck out five. Statcast data shows he relied most heavily on his sinker, which he threw 40% of the time, followed by his slider (34.3%), four-seam fastball (17.9%), and changeup (7.9%). His sinker averaged 96.3 mph, while his four-seamer averaged 95.8 mph.
Dusty Revis and Samad Taylor
Revis, the player heading to Cincinnati, was selected by the Mariners in the 11th round of the 2025 MLB Draft and has yet to make his professional debut. The right-hander spent his final collegiate season at Western Carolina University, where he posted a 4.04 ERA in 14 starts.
Taylor, meanwhile, has been a steady offensive contributor at the Triple-A level throughout his career. The right-handed hitter owns a .281/.373/.432 slash line across four seasons of Triple-A plate appearances. Despite that success, question remains about how his skills will translate against major league pitching.
Although Taylor posted a solid home run total last season, his exit velocities in Triple-A have been well below average. He has relied on plate discipline and a smaller strike zone to draw walks, an approach that can be more difficult to sustain against MLB pitchers.
Taylor appeared in seven games for the Mariners between 2024 and 2025 and previously played with Kansas City. With Triple-A Tacoma in 2025, he hit .296 with 17 home runs, 124 runs scored, 86 RBIs, 44 stolen bases, and an .839 OPS.
The deal reflects Seattle’s continued emphasis on building bullpen depth. Zulueta brings velocity and strong ground-ball tendencies, traits the Mariners have consistently targeted when filling out the back end of their pitching staff. While control remains a work in progress, the organization will have time to evaluate whether Zulueta’s skills will translate into a consistent major league role.
Mariners Trade Minor Leaguer for Power Reliever