Mariners need rotation help: 3 names to watch in August

Option #3: R.A. Dickey

While a pitcher with a career ERA of 4.01 and 2017 ERA of 4.03 doesn’t seem the most appealing to M’s fans, anything is better than Erasmo Ramirez trying to flail through forced, ineffective innings. Dickey is a typical knuckleball pitcher, he relies on finesse rather than strength, and that will lead to a higher ERA when teams inevitably figure out his slower stuff.

Yet, like Verlander, Dickey has been very good in the later part of 2017. Since July 1, he’s posted an ERA of 2.74. That number, if sustainable would put the rest of the M’s rotation, sans James Paxton, to shame.

It shouldn’t be too hard for the Mariners to pull an August trade for Dickey. They have the low/middle tier talent necessary to get him, and Atlanta shouldn’t be holding onto him too tightly as he has had his struggles this year and in recent seasons.

Out of these three options, this one seems like the most likely to happen. Yet, at the end of the day, it’s all speculation, and while not necessarily the best route, Dipoto could simply not make any deals. This Mariners team just doesn’t strike me as a playoff team unless, at the least, they upgrade one pitcher. They can’t continue the Paxton, Miranda, Gallardo, Gonzales, Ramirez rotation if they want to break the drought.

Likelihood of deal: MEDIUM