Paniagua spent most of the 1998 season with the Tacoma Rainiers, the Mariners' Class AAA affiliate, which play in the Pacific Coast League. He received a promotion to the Mariners in August, joining the Mariners' bullpen as a relief pitcher.
Throughout most of the 1998 season, Paniagua was primarily with the Tacoma Rainiers, the Mariners' Class AAA affiliate playing in the Pacific Coast League. In August, he was promoted to the Mariners and joined their bullpen as a reliever.