Seattle Mariners Holiday Wishlist: 3 Lefty Bullpen Weapons

The Seattle Mariners have a dire need for left-handed relievers, here are three arms that would improve the bullpen.

With the recent additions of hard-throwing right-handers Rafael Montero and Keynan Middleton, the Seattle Mariners’ glaring need for a few more left-handed options out of the bullpen became far more obvious. Out of the 16 relievers currently on the 40-man roster, only two are southpaws; Anthony Misiewicz and Aaron Fletcher.

This need is more than likely to be filled sooner rather than later by general manager Jerry Dipoto, as he has stated the plan is to bring in a multitude of new relief arms this offseason. Dipoto has been busy adding pitchers after a very rough 2020 performance from the pen, but they have all been right-handers. It would be ideal if Seattle can go out and acquire a high-leverage left-handed weapon to shake up the balance of the bullpen.

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The 40-man roster is currently full, and Phillip Ervin was designated for assignment to make room for Keynan Middleton. The next to go will very likely be one of the 16 bullpen arms, forcing more of an even split for manager Scott Servais to choose from.

Based on his track record, one would have to expect Dipoto to bring in multiple new lefties over the course of the offseason, ranging possibly from big names to minor league signings or waiver claims. Here are the three best left-handed bullpen arms on the free-agent market that would bring a major change to the Mariners ‘pen in 2021.

Three-time All-Star Brad Hand

Brad Hand is undoubtedly the most high profile left-handed reliever on the market, and one of the best in baseball. The 30-year-old’s asking price will likely lie in the $5-10M annual range, but for a reliever of his caliber that investment would be worth every penny for the lefty-starved Mariners. Hand’s $10M option for 2021 was declined after he was placed on waivers by Cleveland and went unclaimed.

Originally a converted starter from the Marlins organization, Hand built a reputation for himself in the Padres bullpen. In his first season as a reliever Hand appeared in a league-high 82 games. He also had a 2.92 ERA and 3.07 FIP in 2016, while allowing a microscopic .125 batting average in 136 plate appearances against lefties. The rebuilding Padres sent him to Cleveland about a week before the deadline in 2018.

Since 2017 (his first season as a closer), Hand has been included in every All-Star Game. He also had 103 saves in that time, with a 2.87 FIP, a 2.61 ERA, and a 4.61:1 K/BB ratio. Hand has struck out just under 100 batters per season as well in that timeframe.

The best part about Hand is his versatility. He is great against right-handers but even better against lefties, and has shown the willingness to adapt and change roles multiple times throughout his career. Hand is the premier left-handed reliever on the market and should be Jerry Dipoto’s top target.

Brad Hand will also fit nicely into the Seattle Mariners plan because Hand is a veteran, but not an old veteran towards the tail end of his career. The Mariners are not in a win-now mode yet, but they will be in a couple of years. If Jerry Dipoto can sign him to a multi-year deal, Hand could be one of the most important pitchers for the Mariners when they begin to seriously compete.

Next up, a seasoned veteran with playoff experience.

Established veteran Justin Wilson

Journeyman 33-year-old Justin Wilson has seen a long and consistent career in the Majors. Originally a west coast kid born in Anaheim, California – Wilson made his debut with the Pirates in 2012. Since then Wilson has been apart of four other organizations but is yet to call an AL or NL West team home.

Over nine seasons in the show, Wilson sports a lifetime 3.27 ERA. While at one point experiencing a closer’s role during his time in Detroit, Wilson is primarily a middle reliever. Oddly enough, Wilson has also proved matchup-proof over the course of his career. He allows a lifetime .218/.309/.329 slash line against right-handed batters compared to a .233/.318/.333 line versus lefties.

This is no cause for concern; if anything it points towards Wilson being able to potentially provide multi-inning value for the Mariners in 2021, as his career numbers play against both righties and lefties. Wilson would give the Mariners a steady floor of around 40-50 appearances and would also bring veteran leadership and wisdom to the bullpen. A career GB% of 46.8% proves that he knows how to control the zone and get outs.

Wilson would make a very valuable addition to the M’s bullpen in 2021 while being on the affordable side of things. It is clear the Seattle Mariners are beginning to peek their head out of the water because otherwise, Jerry Dipoto would not be spending money on bullpen pitchers. Although the Mariners are adding bullpen depth, do not expect them to suddenly become World Series contenders. The time will come soon enough when the Mariners will be going full speed ahead.