Mariners Option Ryan Loutos to Triple-A Tacoma, Ending Opening Day Bid

Seven runs on seven hits in three innings of Cactus League work cost Ryan Loutos his shot at Seattle's Opening Day bullpen. The Mariners optioned the right-handed reliever to Triple-A Tacoma on March 8, sending him to the Pacific Coast League to begin the 2026 season.

Loutos had entered spring training with a real case to make: Seattle had claimed him off waivers from the Washington Nationals earlier in the offseason, a sign the organization saw enough upside to add him to the roster mix. But four appearances in Arizona erased that opportunity. He allowed six earned runs among the seven total, and the aggregate line of seven hits surrendered across three innings left no room for debate.

The numbers don't tell the complete story of his spring. In at least one appearance, Loutos entered a game mid-inning and induced a double play on a single pitch, which reportedly drew a loud reaction from his personal cheering section in the stands. That kind of efficient, high-leverage work is exactly what wins bullpen spots in March. It just wasn't enough to offset the damage from his other outings.

His option to Tacoma was not the only roster-trimming move Seattle made in that window. The Mariners also re-assigned left-hander Austin Kitchen, outfielder Victor Labrada, and right-hander Teddy McGraw to minor-league camp. Labrada is managing an oblique issue, and McGraw is dealing with biceps tendinitis, meaning both face uncertain timelines before they can contribute at any level.

Elsewhere in the Mariners camp, starter Bryce Miller threw a 25-pitch "touch and feel" bullpen session, operating at roughly 80 percent effort as he works back from an oblique injury. Miller said he has been consulting with teammates who have gone through similar recoveries, trying to resist the urge to push too hard too fast. "It's kind of boring, because I like to just let it rip, but I'm trying to be smart with it," Miller said. He has another bullpen scheduled for midweek, targeting higher intent at the same pitch count. Outfielder Victor Robles was also expected to see three to four at-bats that day as he returns from lingering shoulder soreness.

For Loutos, the immediate path runs through Tacoma. His previous stops with the Nationals organization included multiple trips between Rochester and Washington, so navigating the upper minors is familiar ground. Whether the Mariners call on him during the season will depend on how he performs in the Pacific Coast League and how Seattle's bullpen holds up once the real games begin.