Blake Treinen is exactly what the Seattle Mariners need in 2021

The 32-year-old veteran reliever Blake Treinen would help the Seattle Mariners be contenders in 2021

Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto thinks the team can be competitors in 2021 and plans to add three to four relief pitchers in the offseason. Blake Treinen of the Dodgers will be a free agent at the end of the season and would be an ideal bullpen pitcher for the Mariners.

Treinen was an All-Star in 2018 when he posted a 0.78 ERA as the Athletics closer, saving 38 games. This was the best season of his career and was sixth in Cy Young Award voting as a closer. Treinen’s name was even mentioned for the MVP Award when he finished 15th in voting.

He was also a big part of the Dodgers bullpen in its 2020 World Series championship run. During the regular season, Treinen made 27 appearances and had a 3.86 ERA, struck out 22, and had a 1.208 WHIP.

Treinen has a 3.02 career ERA, pitched 425.2 innings, and struck out 413 batters over his seven-season career. He started his career in Washington, became an Athletics reliever in 2017, and then signed with the Dodgers last season.

Treinen’s career numbers warrant him big money like the one year deal he signed in 2019. The Mariners are looking to compete starting in 2021 as Dipoto said, so there should be plenty of salary room to spend on a couple of free agents.

The Mariners finished 27-33 and third in the American League West thanks to an end of season run. There are players we have yet to see in the big leagues and should make a huge impact in 2021. Like 2020, the Mariners will test many young prospects at the major league level. The 2021 Mariners will be stronger than the 2020 team, but it will be a pilot season still in my mind.

That is why adding relievers like Blake Treinen is so important because the 2020 bullpen was horrendous for the Seattle Mariners. There were some promising performances by young relief pitchers out of the pen such as Yohan Ramirez. But, adding a veteran like Treinen could help with mentoring some of the young pitchers to become top talents.

It would be useful to sign Treinen to a one or two year deal to act as a reliable veteran in the pen, or even as the Mariners closer. The Mariners operated a closer by committee system in 2020, and Treinen has proven his prominence as a closer in the past. The demand for Treinen will be high and I would not be surprised if the Dodgers look to bring him back as well.

Treinen pitched well for the Dodgers and with questions about Kenley Jansen’s struggles, Treinen could be the next closer up for the Dodgers if they re-sign him for 2021. Treinen will be asking for a good deal and the Mariners might be competing with big market teams but Treinen is worth it. He still throws a high 90s fastball with movement as a 32-year-old.