As it stands, Sam Tuivailala could be a fine right-handed specialist. A ROOGY, if you will. He fared very well against righties in 2017, and he has been equally as good this year, holding them to a weak .225/.256/.291 (.240 wOBA) line. That performance made him a clear target for the Mariners and an impactful deadline buy, yet that impact appears limited. Tuivailala’s performance against lefties has regressed to the point of capping his usefulness, but he has the tools to become a full-inning, high-leverage arm.
That is if he can find a little of 2017 in him.