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5 deals Seattle Mariners fans wish were April Fool’s Jokes

By Colby Patnode

DENVER, CO - JULY 25: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies considers slamming his bat to the ground in frustration after flying out in the seventh inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on July 25, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 25: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies considers slamming his bat to the ground in frustration after flying out in the seventh inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on July 25, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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4. Mariners sign Carlos Silva to a 4-year, $48 million deal

SEATTLE – APRIL 19: Catcher Jamie Burke #15 and pitching coach Rick Adair meets with Carlos Silva #52 of the Seattle Mariners during the game against the Detroit Tigers on April 19, 2009, at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE – APRIL 19: Catcher Jamie Burke #15 and pitching coach Rick Adair meets with Carlos Silva #52 of the Seattle Mariners during the game against the Detroit Tigers on April 19, 2009, at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Man, do you guys remember how bad Carlos Silva was? Today, a $12 million AAV bust is annoying, but not debilitating. But 10-years ago for a cheap Mariners ownership group, it was a lead balloon they refused to cut loose.

From 2004-2007, Silva was a reliable, albeit unimpressive, innings eating, strike-throwing, number 4 starter. With the Twins, Silva would make 124 starts and post a 4.42 ERA, a 4.61 FIP, a 102 ERA+ and a total of 9 bWAR. Nothing great, but pretty solid.

When the Mariners shelled out $48 million, they expected more of the same. Instead, what they got was one of the worst pitchers in the American League. In his 2 seasons with the Mariners, Silva posted a 6.81 ERA, a 4.86 FIP, a 62 ERA+ (100 is average), and actually cost the team 2.8 wins with a negative bWAR.

To add insult to injury, Seattle was so desperate to rid themselves of Silva’s contract, they traded him in December of 2009for the headache that would be known as the slimeball Milton Bradley. And to rub even more salt in the wound, Silva was actually usable for the Cubs, making 21 starts of 100 ERA+ ball, making him exactly average.

Silva would never pitch in the big leagues again while pitchers like Kyle Lohse would go on to pitch another 8 seasons after signing a free-agent contract in late March of that same off-season. There really is no debating that Silva was an absolute disaster for Seattle and one that was compounded by trading him for Bradley. Mariners’ fans everywhere should be happy to forget about this mistake.

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