The Mariners have signed 30-year old lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo to a 1-year deal. Kuo pitched in 40 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 1-2 with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. He has now pitched in 218 games (14 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 13-17 with 13 saves, a 3.73 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has only given up 228 hits in his first 292 1/3 innings in the majors while whiffing an impressive 345 batters, as he is downright nasty when he has his head on straight. If he gets his act back together, the Mariners are going to have a steal in him He will team with George Sherrill to give the Mariners’ a nice pair of lefties in the pen if all goes well. I like this signing for the Mariners.

UPDATE: (3/19/2012) - The Mariners have released Hong-Chih Kuo.