Seattle Mariners Targeting Veteran Starting Pitching

The Seattle Mariners are almost certainly looking to add a veteran starting pitcher before the team opens their season in Japan in 2 months.

While there hasn’t been much from the Mariners on the starting pitching market since they landed Yusei Kikuchi earlier this month. However, we have scooped up several breadcrumbs and they all seem to point to the Mariners desire to add another arm.

The Mariners were most definitely involved in the Sonny Gray trade market and now we have learned that they were interested in former Texas Ranger LHP Martin Perez before he signed with the Minnesota Twins.

Currently, Seattle appears to have a full rotation. With the aforementioned Kikuchi set to join holdovers Marco Gonzales, Mike Leake, Felix Hernandez, and Wade LeBlanc in the starting rotation. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto also added close to MLB ready arms Justus Sheffield and Erik Swanson in the James Paxton trade.

With 7 arms theoretically battling for 5 spots, why would Seattle bring in another arm? Because they need one. The team’s desire to trade veteran Mike Leake is well documented, and we could be reaching that moment soon.

In addition, Seattle is going to be extra careful with Kikuchi to help transition him to MLB life, essentially skipping his spot in the rotation every few weeks. There is the added benefit of not rushing Sheffield or Swanson before they are actually ready (as well as pushing back their service clocks) as well.

Adding a veteran arm also gives the team a valuable trade chip at the deadline. With starting pitching always in high demand in June and July, acquiring a cheap starter with #3 upside like Gray or Perez could bring back a B-level prospect to add to the farm system.

While winning may not be the main priority for the 2019 Mariners, they will still need quality starters with the ability to get through a lineup multiple times (unless they want to try “The Opener” strategy), and the market has several of these options available.

In order to protect his young talent and the overall health of his bullpen, adding a veteran starter to the mix is a crucial step in Jerry Dipoto’s off-season plan. Who he brings in, remains to be seen.