Seattle Mariners Opening Day Countdown: 56 Days

As we have hit 56 days until Mariners Opening Day it looks like that number, 56 days, is official. It has been up in the air for the last few months due to the pandemic, but after the MLBPA rejected another proposal by the MLB that included pushing the season back by a month, it is now official that regardless of the state of the COVID Vaccine and regulations the season will start on April 1.

So with 56 days until Opening Day, we brush over the Mariners’ careers of Dave Fleming, Greg Halman, Matt Carasiti, and many others but look back at the two most notable Mariners careers while wearing the number 56.

Looking back at Jarrod Washburn’s Mariners Career

Washburn came to Seattle after 8 successful years with the division-rival Los Angeles Angels, signing a four year $37.5 contract with the Mariners. In those four seasons from 2006-2009, Washburn had a 4.17 ERA in 109 starts. The lefty was a consistent middle of the rotation pitcher for Seattle for four years before being traded to the competing Tigers in 2009.

His most memorable moment came just weeks before he was traded and was when he pitched a complete-game shutout where he faced one more than the minimum and was, therefore, one less allowed hit away from the first perfect game in Seattle’s history.

Looking back at Fernando Rodney’s Mariners Career

Fernando Rodney came to Seattle on a two-year $14 million contract after the two best years of his career which he spent in Tampa Bay. In his first season in Seattle, 2014, Rodney was an All-Star and pitched to a 2.85 ERA with a league-leading 48 saves.

The second season of his two-year deal was quite the opposite, however, as he pitched 50.2 innings and had a 5.68 ERA before he was traded to the Cubs in August 2020 for cash in a DFA trade.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it is indeed 56 days until Opening Day.