The 32-year-old hurler was non-tendered by the Mariners in late November and didn’t find a deal to his liking on the open market, so he has decided to head overseas for the 2025 season. Voth did a nice job out of the M’s bullpen in 2024, registering a 3.69 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 61/18 K/BB ratio over 61 innings. What’s intriguing is that the plan is for him to work as a starter in Japan — perhaps with the idea of returning to the big leagues for the 2026 season in that same role if he has success there.

Every year at this time difficult decisions need to be made around the league regarding each club’s 40-man roster. This one is a bit surprising though. Voth was a major asset to the M’s bullpen in 2024, registering a 3.69 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 61/18 K/BB ratio across his 61 frames. MLBTradeRumors.com had projected the 32-year-old hurler to earn $2.2 million through arbitration, so it’s not like the salary jump should have made a major difference in their decision. It shouldn’t take Voth long at all to find a new opportunity on the open market.

FanSided’s Robert Murray reported that the deal was worth $1.25 million. If things go well, the Mariners will also have control of him in arbitration in 2025. Voth had an excellent 3.04 ERA in 17 starts and five relief appearances for the Orioles in 2022, but he missed much of last season with an elbow injury and finished with a 5.19 ERA in 34 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. It’s possible that he’ll be a rotation stopgap for the Mariners if pitchers start getting hurt, but he’s likely looking at a role in middle relief otherwise.

It’s a little bit surprising to see Voth get a major league deal after a 2023 season in which he missed time with an elbow injury and put up a 5.19 ERA in 34 2/3 innings while healthy, but he was quite good for a stretch in 2022. The Mariners will likely use him in middle relief.