CHRIS FLEXEN NEWS

Officially released by NYM Flexen was released by the Mets on Thursday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Impact Flexen was designated for assignment by the Mets shortly after they acquired him from the Mariners on Monday as part of a three-player swap. The primary target for New York in that trade was reliever Trevor Gott. Flexen, who had struggled to a 7.71 ERA in 42 major-league innings this year with Seattle, will now head to the free agent market.

JULY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Won't stick on 40-man roster The Mets designated Flexen for assignment Monday after acquiring him from the Mariners.

Impact Along with Flexen, the Mets acquired right-hander Trevor Gott from Seattle in exchange for lefty Zach Muckenhirn, but Gott is the main asset in the deal from the Mets' standpoint. The Mets will absorb the approximately $4 million remaining on Flexen's contract, and though he won't be added to the 40-man roster, the organization is presumably hoping that he'll pass through waivers and help bolster the rotation at Triple-A Syracuse. Flexen owns an ugly 7.71 ERA and 1.86 WHIP in 42 frames with Seattle in 2023, but between the prior two seasons, the 29-year-old right-hander amassed a 3.66 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 317.1 innings and 53 starts. Perhaps a change of scenery will help the soft-tossing Flexen stumble upon a better pitch mix or a mechanical tweak that could allow him to resurface as useful rotation depth for the big club in the latter portion of the season.

JULY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returning to Queens The Mets acquired Flexen and right-hander Trevor Gott from the Mariners on Monday in exchange for left-hander Zach Muckenhirn, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Impact Flexen will be returning to the organization where he started his professional career after he was drafted out of high school in 2012. Though he had been a serviceable back-end rotation option for most of his prior two seasons in Seattle, Flexen has struggled mightily both as a starter and reliever thus far in 2023, pitching to a 7.71 ERA and 1.86 WHIP over 42 innings before the Mariners designated him for assignment last week. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets will cover the approximately $4 million remaining on the $8 million in salary Flexen is due for the rest of the season, hoping that the return to Queens can help the 29-year-old re-emerge as useful starting depth. He'll most likely work in long relief initially.

JULY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mariners designate struggling Flexen for assignment SEATTLE -- Chris Flexen, in so many ways, was among the spearheading pieces behind the Mariners emerging from mediocrity and finally ending...

JUNE 27, 2023 • MLB.COM

Dropped from 40-man roster Flexen was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Tuesday.

Impact Flexen was an important part of the pitching mix in Seattle between 2021-2022 while working as both a starter and reliever, but he has now been dropped from the 40-man roster after struggling to a 7.71 ERA through 42 innings (four starts, 13 relief appearances) here in 2023. The 28-year-old had surrendered 13 earned runs in 8.2 innings since the beginning of June.

JUNE 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Thriving as reliever Flexen, who fired three scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in a loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday, has yet to be scored upon in seven frames ac...

Impact Wednesday's efficient 29-pitch outing marked Flexen's second-most voluminous relief appearance in that regard, as he'd thrown 43 pitches in just two innings against Toronto in his bullpen debut April 30. The one-time starter has issued just one free pass and scattered seven hits over his stint as a reliever thus far, and his versatility should continue to afford him multi-inning assignments that may occasionally allow him to qualify for a hold or decision.

MAY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday Flexen will not make his scheduled start Saturday in Toronto, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Impact Seattle recalled Easton McGee from Triple-A to make Saturday's start, and given how Flexen has pitched lately, it seems like he just lost his rotation spot. Flexen has given up 18 earned runs in 12.1 innings over his last three appearances.

APRIL 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Handed fourth straight loss Flexen (0-4) allowed six runs on nine hits and three walks over four innings Sunday, striking out three and taking a loss against the Cardinals.

Impact Flexen struggled right out of the gate Sunday, coughing up a pair of runs in the first inning. He allowed another run in the third before Nolan Gorman took him deep for a three-run shot in the fourth. After yielding just three runs in his first two starts, Flexen has been hammered for 18 runs over the last 12.1 frames. His next start is lined up to be in Toronto where he'll look to lower his 8.86 ERA.

APRIL 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes loss Monday Flexen fell to 0-3 with a loss against Milwaukee on Monday. He surrendered four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five batters over six innings.

Impact Flexen pitched better than in his previous outing, when he was hammered for eight runs on 10 hits over 2.1 innings, but he couldn't avoid his third straight loss. The right-hander notched season highs with six frames and five punchouts, but he was done in primarily by a rough third inning during which he gave up three runs. Flexen's fantasy appeal is limited by his lack of strikeout stuff -- he's fanned just 11 batters through 17.1 frames -- and his 7.79 ERA and 1.73 WHIP thus far have him off the radar outside of deep leagues.

APRIL 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Big inning hurts Flexen, Mariners' win streak ends SEATTLE -- Chris Flexen continued his fill-in work for Robbie Ray on Monday, and in many ways, looked the part of Seattle's injured lefty, b...

APRIL 18, 2023 • MLB.COM

Brewers stay hot, top Mariners 7-3, but concern about Burnes

Corbin Burnes pitched 5 1/3 innings before leaving with a left pectoral strain, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Seattle Mariners 7-3 for their fourth win in five games

APRIL 18, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brewers visit the Mariners to open 3-game series

The Seattle Mariners host the Milwaukee Brewers to start a three-game series

APRIL 17, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yields eight runs in loss Flexen (0-2) took the loss against the Cubs on Tuesday, allowing eight runs on 10 hits with two walks over 2.1 innings. He struck out one.

Impact Flexen faced another setback despite his efforts as he failed to pitch beyond the fifth inning in his third consecutive start. The right-hander had a tough time with a seven-run third inning, featuring a two-run shot by Trey Mancini and a grand slam by Nelson Velazquez, leading to Flexen's exit and putting pressure on the Seattle bullpen early. Although the 28-year-old has a high 8.74 ERA over 11.1 innings, he may continue to serve as the fifth man in the rotation due to Robbie Ray's ongoing elbow rehab.

APRIL 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mariners break out on offense, but can't hold lead CHICAGO -- All Chris Flexen could do was shake his head. And after watching Cubs right fielder Nelson Velázquez’ go-ahead grand slam drop in...

APRIL 12, 2023 • MLB.COM

Debacle at Wrigley Field: Mariners blow early 7-run lead in 14-9 loss to Cubs The Mariners got the bats going early with seven runs in the first two innings Tuesday, but starter Chris Flexen allowed eight runs before l...

APRIL 12, 2023 • SEATTLETIMES.COM

Cubs play the Mariners leading series 1-0

The Chicago Cubs lead 1-0 in a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners

APRIL 11, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes loss Wednesday Flexen (0-1) was tagged with the loss against the Angels on Wednesday, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Impact Flexen entered the rotation as a result of Robbie Ray (elbow) hitting the injured list. Flexen put up a decent showing, but a Logan O'Hoppe two-run homer off him in the second inning was enough to pin him with a loss. Ray is expected to be out until at least May, so Flexen should have multiple more turns in the rotation. Wednesday's outing was evidence that he's capable of keeping the Mariners competitive in his starts, but the right-hander's paltry strikeout numbers over the past two campaigns make him an unexciting fantasy option.

APRIL 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mariners and Angels meet with series tied 1-1

The Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels meet on Wednesday with the three-game series tied 1-1

APRIL 5, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scheduled for start Wednesday Flexen is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Angels, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Impact It was widely assumed that Flexen would replace Robbie Ray in the rotation after Ray was diagnosed with a Grade 1 flexor strain, but it's now confirmed. The right-hander will likely make more than a handful of starts while Ray recovers, and pitched well in relief of the southpaw with four innings of one-run baseball. Flexen doesn't miss many bats and relies on quality defense behind him, so he's more of a streaming option over the coming weeks.

APRIL 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Solid in long relief Flexen allowed an earned run on four hits and three walks across four innings in a loss to the Guardians on Friday. He struck out one and did not factor into the decision.

Impact Starter Robbie Ray was chased after 3.1 innings, leading to what could have been a busy night for the bullpen. However, Flexen, a member of the rotation for most of the last two seasons, ate up some valuable innings in the back end of the contest and spared the arms of several of his bullpen mates in the process. Having thrown 66 pitches Friday, Flexen is unlikely to be available again until after the weekend.

APRIL 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Will open season in bullpen Flexen will not open the season in Seattle's starting rotation, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

Impact The Mariners will have Luis Castillo on the mound for Opening Day, and he'll be followed in order by Robbie Ray, Logan Gilbert, Marco Gonzales and George Kirby. That means Flexen will be a multi-inning relief option to begin the season despite a strong 2.65 ERA in 17 innings so far in the Cactus League. If anything was to happen to the names above Flexen would be the obvious replacement.

MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Impressive thus far in spring Flexen has allowed one run on eight hits and two walks while recording six strikeouts across 8.1 innings in three Cactus League appearances.

Impact The veteran right-hander worked all the way up to 50 pitches in his most recent outing Saturday against the Rockies as he continues to try and make a case for a back-end rotation spot. Flexen's 8-9 record last season was, on the surface, a step back from his career-best 14-6 mark in 2021. However, the 28-year-old's 3.73 ERA was his second straight sub-4.00 mark and was only slightly higher than the career-low 3.61 figure he'd generated a season prior.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Amid trade rumors, Flexen set on proving himself GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Chris Flexen beamed after his Cactus League debut on Monday when he showed off an adorable picture of his new daughter, S...

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 • MLB.COM

MLB Winter Meetings: 10 trade candidates to watch

While splash signings have consumed the MLB Winter Meetings thus far, Jordan Shusterman lists 10 potential trades to keep an eye on.

DECEMBER 7, 2022

Why the Mariners should trade Chris Flexen to the Brewers for Kolten Wong The Brewers lacked rotation depth in 2022. The Mariners lacked production at second base. This trade seems like a perfect fit.

DECEMBER 2, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM