Neither player has any major league experience, but the trade is likely more about the Dodgers’ desire to clear a spot on their 40-man roster. Tuesday is the deadline for teams to set their rosters ahead of the Rule 5 Draft, and Friday is the non-tender deadline, making for a very busy week of rostering.
Interestingly enough, it was only ten days ago that Los Angeles selected Ortiz’s contract for the 40-man roster, but the Dodgers have now changed course and sent Ortiz to Seattle. LA now has 38 spots filled on its 40 men, while the Mariners have taken at least 39 spots and possibly a full 40 depending on when Josh Naylor‘s new contract has been made official.
Ortiz (who turns 26 in January) had spent his entire professional career with the Dodgers organization prior to today’s trade. Between the canceled 2020 minor league season and multiple injury issues, Ortiz threw just 22 2/3 innings over five years over the 2020-2024 seasons, but the 2025 season marked a return to relative normalcy. The southpaw posted a 2.73 ERA and a 28.3% strikeout rate over 59 1/3 combined innings at three different minor league levels, with Ortiz making his debut at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels last year.
A nasty slider/sinker combo has led to plenty of strikeouts for Ortiz, though control remained an issue, as evidenced by his 13.2% walk rate in 2025. Seattle is noticeably thin on left-handed pitching, as Gabe Speier is currently the only lefty who will be part of the Mariners’ bullpen mix next year. Ortiz adds some depth in that area, and there appears to be plenty of upside for Ortiz as a utility weapon if he can cut back on the free passes.
Gough was a ninth-round pick for the Mariners in the 2022 draft, and he posted a 4.66 ERA over 125 2/3 innings at A-level Modesto in 2023-24, starting 32 of his 33 career GMs. Tommy John surgery in September 2024 has kept Gough off the mound since, though the usual TJ recovery timeline should put the right-hander in line to be ready for a healthy Spring Training in February.
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