Alright, Seattle, check this out! We just got word that the New York Yankees are shaking things up in their bullpen, and guess who’s getting a call-up? It’s none other than our former Mariners reliever, Justin Topa! Yeah, *that* Justin Topa! The Yanks are planning to bring him in, a move that’s been opened up by the whole Giancarlo Stanton saga. Stanton, who’s been sidelined since April with a calf strain, just re-strained his *other* calf while running the bases. Brutal luck, man. It means he’s likely headed to the 60-day injured list, which clears a precious 40-man roster spot for New York. And Topa’s the guy they’re tapping!
From Twins Woes to the Minor League Grind, Then Redemption?
Can you believe this journey? Topa, a 35-year-old with seven years in the bigs, has had a seriously wild ride this season. He started out with the Minnesota Twins, and man, it was a rough patch. We’re talking 17 earned runs on 27 hits in just 19 innings before the Twins decided to cut him loose. Ouch. From there, it’s been a true minor league tour, signing one contract after another with the Kansas City Royals, then the Toronto Blue Jays, and now finally, a chance with the Yankees. Talk about persistence! The dude might not be blowing guys away like he did at his absolute peak, but what we know about Topa is he still throws strikes and, crucially, generates grounders at quality rates. That’s a good sign! If he can bottle up some of that Triple-A success and actually stick in Aaron Boone’s bullpen, who knows? The dream of being postseason-eligible is technically out there for him, even if it feels like a million miles away right now.
Remembering Our Guy and a Big Dumper Head-Scratcher
For us here in the Emerald City, Topa’s return to the majors is a cool nod to our recent past. This guy was a genuinely valuable member of our Seattle Mariners bullpen just last year in 2023! Remember that? He threw up a rock-solid 2.61 ERA and only gave up a measly four home runs across a whopping 69 innings. He was nails for us! It’s gonna be interesting to watch if he can rediscover that M’s magic for the Pinstripes. Now, on a completely different, slightly head-scratching note for the M’s faithful: our catcher, Cal Raleigh, the Big Dumper himself, is making some peculiar history this season. Get this: he’s currently on track to hit the fewest home runs ever recorded when compared to seasons *after* a player has had a 60+ homer season in MLB history. Yeah, you read that right. It’s a super specific stat, but it definitely makes you raise an eyebrow and wonder about his power numbers this year. We want those dingers, Cal!
What’s Next for Topa and Our M’s
So, Justin Topa gets another shot in the bigs, proving that grit and perseverance can still pay off in this game. It’s a bummer for Stanton, but a huge opportunity for Topa to show everyone he’s still got it. As for our Mariners, with the regular season absolutely flying by, we’re glued to every pitch. Will Topa find his old form and shine in New York? More importantly for us, will Cal Raleigh snap out of this weird historical stat and start launching some bombs for our Mariners? You know we’ll be watching every single game, cheering on our boys and looking forward to what wild ride this season takes us on next! Go M’s!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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