Reliever Gabe Speier has played a big role in the Seattle Mariners' rise to the top of the AL West in the 2024 MLB season's opening month.
The tattooed lefty has been stellar to open the season, boasting a 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 innings with 15 strikeouts and a 452 ERA+. On top of his excellent play on the field, Speier has a great story that makes it easy to root for him.
The reliever is 29 years old and has been traded no less than four times throughout the course of his baseball career, dating back to 2014 after he signed with the Boston Red Sox out of Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, Ca. Plenty of MLB players have been traded more but there are few who have been traded as often while still making an impact at the major league level.
During an interview on MLB Network ahead of the Mariners' matinee against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, Speier gave a great quote about how often he's found himself on the move.
Outstanding. The guy is likable on and off the field.
It's a remarkable turnaround for Speier, who was claimed off waivers by Seattle last offseason and spent 2023 in Triple-A Tacoma. Now he's a critical part of a contending team's bullpen at the highest level.
At this rate, Speier has been traded for the last time.
