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Seattle Mariners: 5 Free Agents That Fit the Rebuild

By Ty Gonzalez

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 31: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies has Powerade poured on him after his walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on August 31, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 31: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies has Powerade poured on him after his walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on August 31, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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RHP MARCO ESTRADA

SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 04: Marco Estrada #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays acknowledges the standing ovation as he is relieved in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on August 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. Estrada gave up only one hit and no runs in the game. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 04: Marco Estrada #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays acknowledges the standing ovation as he is relieved in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on August 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. Estrada gave up only one hit and no runs in the game. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

The starting pitching market is a minefield. You could either hit big and find great value, or have it completely blow up in your face. The Mariners have experienced their fair share of the latter recently, seeing names such as J.A. Happ and Yovani Gallardo (both trades, but similar players to those we’re showcasing) completely fizzle out and the M’s saw little-to-no return whatsoever.

Marco Estrada is exactly that type, as he provides very little middle ground. It’s either one extreme or the other with him. For most of his time with the Blue Jays, Estrada was a serviceable third or fourth option in their rotation, but hit a brick wall in 2018 with a 5.44 FIP in 28 starts. Given his past success, however, Estrada is a solid bounce-back candidate who could fare well and build some value on the trade market to playoff teams looking for a solid back-of-the-rotation starter.

Estrada would have a good chance of doing that in Seattle, as the 35-year-old righty has posted a 3.44 FIP in 18 innings at the field formerly known as Safeco. He’s also very reliant upon the flyball, finishing first among starters with at least 140 innings logged with a 55.6% flyball rate, which should play better in a more pitcher-friendly park. Still, such high numbers should call for a bit of hesitance, even for a rebuilding team. But there’s potential there, and Estrada may be worth a look.

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