Mariners Analysis: M’s to Upgrade Rotation?

Rich Hill – LHP – Oakland A’s

One of the M’s top choices could actually be an American League West nemesis in Rich Hill. Even at 36 years of age, Hill is having a remarkable season. He has not allowed more than three runs in any of his thirteen starts this season. His ERA so far is just a measly 2.25, which is third best in baseball.

Even more promising for the Oakland Athletic is that his strikeout totals are still impressive. He has K’d ten batters three times this season and has fanned at least six men in seventy-five percent of his starts (ten times).

The Mariners are fully aware of the potency of Hill; they have faced him twice this year and have been dominated both times. In his first shot against the M’s, Hill had one of those ten K showings, while also only allowing five hits over six innings. That April night the Mariners could only muster one run against Hill in the team’s 6-1 loss to the Athletics. In late May he spun an even better gem, busting through eight shut-out frames. Again Hill would take the win, making his numbers versus the M’s mind-boggling: 0.64 ERA with sixteen K’s in two starts.

If there is one weakness for the aging athletic, it is his walk totals. While he is striking batters out with great consistency, he is also allowing bases on balls too often. He has walked three or more batters in six of his thirteen starts- four batters two of those times. Now, that may be consistent with many of the M’s rotation so far this year, but it is not the standard the team wants.

Walks will be walks though, and the Mariners will take them if he were to bring the rest of his arsenal with him. While his age could also be a concern, a trade for Hill could be a quick fix to the M’s inconsistency, and they can deal him away next year, but it doesn’t look like father time is playing much of a factor on him at the moment.  Hill would be a pleasant and flashy addition to the rotation if the M’s could finagle a deal for him before the deadline.

Next: Julio Teheran

Julio Teheran – RHP – Atlanta Braves

Another stud that the M’s could bring in is a player less familiar than Hill, but equally as good, he is Julio Teheran. 11 years Hill’s junior, Teheran could be a long term piece for the Mariners to play with, and why wouldn’t they want that after the season he is having?

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Undoubtedly over-looked because of the team he plays for, this young talent is finally settling in as a premier pitcher in the league. His 2.79 ERA is the tenth lowest in the National League, only behind some of the best pitchers in the game (Kershaw, Bumgarner, Arrieta to name a few). His youth, matched with his talent, has allowed him to pitch deep into games. His 125.2 innings pitched is fourth highest in the NL. That number has been helped by his five shut-out starts that have all gone at least seven innings, highlighted by a complete game one-hitter back in May.

As for personal achievements, that ERA is the lowest of his short four year stint as an every day starter. And where others like Hill don’t help the Mariners walks total, Teheran delivers. He is on pace for just forty-five bases on balls for the entire season- that would tie a career low. That matched with his lower number of hits allowed brings his WHIP to .095 which is the second lowest in all of baseball just behind the stellar Clayton Kershaw.

However the biggest threat to bringing on the Colombian native is his home runs allowed. His sixteen given up is the third most in baseball for pitchers who have an ERA under 3.00. This poses an issue as Safeco Field has allowed the most home runs in baseball this season with 138. If Teheran has already allowed a large number of long bombs, coming to Safeco could cause that number to rise even higher.

Yet, while the home runs are a problem , his ERA and WHIP give enough hope that coming to a hitter-friendly ballpark won’t hurt him too much. So with all the positive aspects that surround his game, Julio Teheran would be a welcomed addition to the rotation.

Next: Andrew Cashner

Andrew Cashner – RHP – San Diego Padres

The last and probably easiest to obtain is Padre, Andrew Cashner. The Padres just traded away Drew Pomeranz, proof they are already looking towards next season. With little to look forward to the rest of the campaign, the Padres are looking to rebuild; shipping Cashner to the M’s can help with that.

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There is little to say about Cashner that makes him a better member of the rotation than I previously mentioned, but he is consistent. He has allowed exactly three runs in seven of his fifteen games. On the brightest days, he only allowed one run and that happened five times, three of them in his last four starts, which is a good sign.

He has had some hiccups along the way, allowing more than five runs twice, including a horrific eight runs early this month in less than three innings, which hasn’t helped his 4.79 ERA. That number is slightly deceiving though because he hasn’t pitch more than six and one-third innings all year. This could be an issue for the M’s because their bullpen- especially of late- has proven very unreliable.

The Mariners have been fortunate, much like with Hill to have seen Cashner up close and personal. Back in late May during their inter-league series, Cashner went the six and one-third, giving up his typical three runs on six hits. He has seen the M’s three other times since 2010, once pitching seven innings, giving up just one earned run, that was back in 2014. It is to be determined if he can bring back performances like that this year.

Next: M’s Go Blue Jay Hunting in Toronto

What can be said though is that with many pitchers- others being Ervin Santana, Jake Odorizzi and more- The Mariners will have options to help the rotation to reach its expectations. GM Jerry Dipoto has voiced his concern with a hint of optimism about the rotation, but these new additions could help quell his and Mariner fans fears, if they come to the Emerald City.