Who Will Be In the Mariners 2014 Starting Rotation?

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Aug 30, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) looks in before delivering a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays beat the Royals 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

With Ervin Santana the Mariners would know what they would be getting: a thirty-one year old innings eater whose ERA should sit around 4 for an entire season. He would give the M’s 180+, and his ERA could dip under 4 with the help of Safeco Field.

Why I think the M’s should sign Santana: you get what you pay for. Santana would probably take 4 years and more money than what Jason Vargas got in Kansas City ($32 million), but he would give the innings and the consistency the Mariners would need. He would slot in nicely as the number 3 starter, where either Taijuan Walker or James Paxton could leapfrog him at some point during the season. He would be a solid 4 in the rotation for the next couple of years once the younger guys develop.

Why I am hesitant: Santana just had a career year with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP and it is always dangerous to invest a sizable amount of money and years in a guy who is selling high (remember that is one of my biggest concerns with Jimenez). But Santana has been more consistent, but in the end there really isn’t a very high ceiling.

The Mariners would do much better with Matt Garza…

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