Victor Robles to IL; Mariners select INF Connor Joe

Feb 26, 2026; Peoria, Arizona, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Connor Joe (9) hits a single against the Cleveland Guardians in the second inning at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

The Seattle Mariners announced today that they have placed OF Victor Robles on the 10-day IL with a right pectoral strain. To take Robles’s place on the roster, the Mariners have selected INF/OF Connor Joe. Joe will wear #9, last worn by INF Ben Williamson.

Joe, 33, is a journeyman player who’s been with several organizations, most known as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team that drafted him, and the Rockies, where he played two seasons. The Mariners brought him in this spring on a minor-league deal and invited him to camp as an NRI, where he saw significant playing time while many Mariners regulars were away at the WBC.

Joe impressed in camp, knocking in six doubles, a triple and a homer over 20 games, showing some surprising thump and recording consistently loud exit velocities for a player who’s never been known as a power threat. Joe credited that this spring to the Mariners’ up-the-middle philosophy, saying it suits him well as a hitter. He told me this spring how quickly he took to the Mariners’ offensive philosophy, and coaching specifically:

“From [Kevin] Seitzer to Mags [Bobby Magallanes] to Pap [Ed Papprella], we had such productive talks, and Mags even pulled up some video from when I was going really well with the Pirates and compared it to some of the moves I was making when I first got to camp, and talked about how I could add some more rhythm in there, get a little bit more separation, just be more athletic in the box, and it’s really helped me. The work with them and the communication with them has been very, very consistent.”

View Link

What the Mariners were really excited about when acquiring Joe, however, is his plus makeup and leadership abilities. Joe, whose father ran Chinese restaurants in the San Diego area and often worked 15-hour days, is a testicular cancer survivor who speaks often about the importance of early detection and his difficult journey to fatherhood. (I strongly recommend you read the linked article, written by now-Mariners AP beat reporter Andrew Destin, who covered Joe back when he was in Pittsburgh.)

In addition to these moves, the Mariners also moved RHP Carlos Vargas to the 60-day IL with a lat strain. Vargas was placed on the 15-day IL on March 27th after feeling discomfort during his regular throwing routine. RHP Cole Wilcox was selected from Tacoma to replace Vargas and has since appeared in three games, punching out six of the sixteen hitters he’s faced so far.

New Mariner Cole Wilcox works on keeping it consistent