Mariners believe in ex-Dodgers LHP to solve major worry

The Seattle Mariners are one of the most complete teams in baseball.

They just might be short a left-handed reliever, according to ESPN's Bradford Doolittle.

In a new article on Friday, though, Doolittle also acknowledges that it's good news if that's your biggest question mark.

"If you're looking at the roster of a World Series contender and your main critique is that it could use a third bullpen lefty, that roster is in pretty good condition," Doolittle writes.

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He then breaks out a name that could solve the problem, one that many Mariners fans may not be familiar with.

"I've been warned that an off-the-radar pickup over the winter -- ex-Dodgers lefty relief prospect Robinson Ortiz -- bears watching," Doolittle writes. "In other words, maybe there is nothing to nitpick about this Seattle roster after all."

Ortiz is 26 years old from the Dominican Republic, a southpaw standing 6-feet tall.

He has never pitched in the majors, but he made it to Triple-A for the first time in 2025. He had a 2.76 ERA in 15 appearances for the Dodgers' affiliate in Oklahoma City.

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Overall, Ortiz pitched in 48 games across three levels of the minors in 2025 and put up a 2.73 ERA with 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

He had missed the entire 2022 and 2023 seasons, totally setting back his development, and this offseason, the Dodgers didn't sign him back.

That opened the door for the Mariners, who could certainly use another lefty out of the bullpen. No one batted an eye when they signed Ortiz, but he may turn out to be quite important this season in Seattle.

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