Seattle Mariners: History of Starting Pitchers, Part 1

Moyer, Freddy, and the Rise of the King

The Mariners also acquired Jamie Moyer in 1996. He was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in August 2015, becoming the ninth member. The Mariners picked him up at the trade deadline from the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Darren Bragg. He pitched for the Mariners for 11 seasons, than was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on August 19, 2006, for two minor leaguers.

In his eleven seasons with the Mariners, Moyer had a record of 145-87 with an era 3.97. His best two seasons were 2001 where he won 20 while losing 8, and 2003 with a record of 21-7.

Freddy Garcia made his debut in 1999 after being traded over from Houston for Randy Johnson in 1998. He pitched five and a half years for the Mariners before being traded to the Chicago White Sox. He had a total record of 76-50 with an ERA of 3.89. He started six games in the playoffs for the Mariners in 2000 and 2001.

Aaron Sele, the local product out of Poulsbo, Washington, signed a free agent contract before the 2000 season. The Baltimore Orioles were going to sign him; however, they changed their mind after his physical exam by the team doctors.

In 2000, Sele had a record of 17-10 with an ERA of 4.51. He was the first right-handed pitcher for the Mariners to make the All-Star team. He started two playoff games against the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees.

In 2001, his second season with the Mariners, he had a record of 15-5 and an ERA of 3.60. He started three games in the playoffs against the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. He lost all three games as well. He signed a free agent contract with the Anaheim Angels after that season, playing there for three years.

In 2005, Sele returned again to the Mariners, who finished fourth in the American League West with a record of 69-63. He didn’t have a good year either with a record of 6-12 and an ERA of 5.66. Since the Mariners were not going anywhere, they released him on July 31, 2005.

Joel Pineiro was one of the Mariners top three starting pitchers in 2002, along with Jamie Moyer and Freddie Garcia. He made appearances on the Mariners in 2000 and 2001, but the 2002 season was his first full year in the major leagues. He had a record of 14-7 with an ERA of 3.24, pitching 194 innings. The next year, he had another good campaign for the Mariners, with a record of 16-11 and an ERA of 3.78 while pitching 211 innings.

Pineiro didn’t have any other years with the Mariners like 2002 and 2003. In 2004 he had a record of 6-11. He started 21 games that year before going on the disabled list on July 27. He didn’t return the rest of the season.

In 2005, he had a record of 7-11. He was sent down to Triple-A for a short period of time as well. In 2006, his last year with the Mariners, he had a record of 8-13. In August, he was sent to the bullpen. The Mariners didn’t give him a contract for the next season so he became a free agent where he signed with the Boston Red Sox.

Ryan Franklin made his Mariners debut in 1999 as a reliever, where he stayed until 2003 when he became a starter. It was his best season as a starter. He had a record of 11-13 with 32 starts and an ERA of 3.57. He started 30 and 32 games the next two years, but had losing records both years. He signed a free agent contract with Philadelphia Phillies going into the 2006 season. For the remainder of his career, he pitched out of the bullpen.

Gil Meche, whom the Mariners drafted in the first round in 1996, made his debut in 1999 but didn’t become a regular starter until 2002. He was in the rotation for four seasons. Three of his four seasons, he had winning records, though his ERA was above four.

He never became the pitcher the Mariners were hoping for. Meche signed with the Royals in 2007.