Rumors: Mariners Aiming For Reds Starter Anthony DeSclafani?

According to the original report from MLB Network’s, Jon Morosi, the Mariners have been in contact with the Tampa Rays and Cincinnati Reds for a starting pitcher. As per the latest various reports on the Reds front since Morosi’s insider info, the M’s could be targeting Anthony DeSclafani.

The Mariners GM, Jerry Dipoto has said he would like a veteran pitcher to join the fold in Seattle, but despite that, rumors have it that the M’s may be looking to bring the young, blooming, Anthony DeSclafani who is coming into his fourth season in the league.

Both the folks at RotoWorld and The Dayton Daily News believe DeSclafani’s name is probably on the list of the guys in the Reds organization that the Mariners are targeting. Although, acquiring him might come at too steep a price for the Mariners at this time.

While the Reds GM Dick Williams said he would listen to any offers about any players, Manager, Bryan Price has suggested a conflicting idea about keeping their rotation intact.

"“I like our staff,” Price said. “If we stay intact … position players are going to go out there and feel comfortable every time those four take the field and are on the mound.”"

Whatever the Reds may or may not do with the Mariners in the coming days or weeks, let’s take these rumors at face value and examine how DeSclafani’s numbers work for the Mariners.

In just three years in the league, it is already fairly clear what the right-hander is improving upon and what still needs work.

Let’s start with the positives.

First, for the most important pitching statistic, ERA, DeSclafani has improved his earned run average from 2015 when it was 4.05- this past year it was 3.26. That may be due to his increase in his K/9, which has increased .3 since his rookie 2014 Campaign with the Miami Marlins -it was 7.7 at the end of this past season.

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Now for the negatives.

Unfortunately, DeSclafani is still mostly locating his pitches down and too close to the plate, and batters are making him pay for that.

Overall, batters are hitting .358 against him when he puts the ball down in the zone.

A handful of the hits he’s surrendering are home runs. Compared to 2015 he gave up just one less home run even though he pitched sixty-one fewer innings.

Now, in Safeco, these numbers might come down, but he’ll have to work with pitching coach, Mel Stottlemyre to correct his location problems.

Next: Mariners Targeting A Rays Starter?

We must remember though that these are just rumors and/or discussions at this point. Nothing has been finalized, and the Mariners haven’t made public who they are looking at from the Reds or Rays. We’ll just have to sit patiently and see what Dipoto can pull off to sure up the rotation.