Mariners Free Agency: Options for a one-year Starting Pitcher

After the Mariners signed Robbie Ray, it instantly bumped their rotation into a potentially very dangerous status. I don’t mean dangerous for us fans, but for opponents who would be facing them. Think about the top four guys that they will be putting out there to toe the rubber at the start of games. Robbie Ray, Marco Gonzales, Chris Flexen, Logan Gilbert. There’s a decent size IF associated with it, but they could be really good IF they pitch as they should.

It also leaves the last spot open. There is a boatload of possibilities there. Should they trade for another rental? Should they go after an established guy that they would have control of for a few years? Should they look in-house, to the likes of Justin Dunn, Justus Sheffield, Matt Brash, Brandon Williamson, George Kirby, or Emerson Hancock?

That’s a lot of options in-house. Some of them may not be ready yet, whether it be due to inexperience or injury history, or even lack of ability to consistently perform as a starter.

However, there is another option.

What if they signed one of the free-agent pitchers to a one-year deal to take the final spot in the rotation? I don’t necessarily mean the fifth spot, either. There’s even a hidden bonus to doing this, potentially, but let’s save that revelation for later.

There are more than five options out there for this. There are plenty of players that they could try and sign to a one-year deal to fill out that last spot in the rotation. I’m limiting it to five though, and it’s a mix of returning faces, interesting vets, and guys with a high risk/reward association. Let’s get started with the same guy that the Mariners acquired at the trade deadline last year.

Mariners Target #5: Tyler Anderson

The Mariners could always bring back Tyler Anderson. He came over at the trade deadline, a deal that was only possible because the original deal with the Phillies fell through. The Mariners would end up getting him, and personally, I was pretty excited about it. It’s not that Anderson is some kind of amazing and spectacular pitcher, but someone that was going to give you consistent outings (for the most part) and could be relied upon to eliminate the need for a bullpen start.

You take a look at Anderson’s 2021 numbers after getting to the Mariners, and they don’t look that great at first glance. The 4.81 ERA, and a touch under five innings per start stand out. I’m taking the liberty of throwing out one start though. He gave up nine in two innings on September 25th, when the Mariners lost 14-1. Outside of that, he threw just over five innings per start with a 3.65 ERA.

You know what? I’d take that again. Maybe he gets blown up once in a while. He’s gonna give you five innings, he doesn’t walk many hitters, and you can expect to be there in that #5 spot every trip through. It’s what you should want from your fifth spot at a minimum, and Anderson is going to provide it. As a cost-efficient option, he would be a good selection if the team was still going to be spending money elsewhere to improve.

Mariners Target #4: Michael Pineda

The number one question with Michael Pineda is “hey, what’s that on your arm?” Oops. Sorry.

Okay, the real number one question with Pineda is “are you sure that the guy can stay healthy?” He threw 171 innings as a rookie with the Mariners back in 2011, made the All-Star game, and finished 5th in ROY voting. Since then, he has been injured a handful of times, and you just can’t be sure what you are going to get out of him.

However, when he is out there, he has been pretty good and consistent as well. Did you know he’s actually a career 3.98 ERA (3.69 FIP) pitcher? He’s got 8.8 K/9, a number that has been trending down lately, but a full and healthy offseason could see it return to the mid-high 8s.

Last year, Pineda made 21 starts in 22 games and threw 109.1 innings with a 1.235 WHIP. Since coming back from Tommy John in 2018, he’s made 52 starts (53 games), thrown 282 innings, with a ERA of 3.80, a FIP of 3.93, and a WHIP of 1.191.

You know what? I kind of want to see what he would do in Seattle. If the Mariners could sign him to a 1 year for $6/7 million, maybe 2-10, then I would be okay with it. If you can get a 1.0 WAR from him each year, it’s definitely worth it. In just those 109 innings last year, he was a 1.5 WAR. If, and it’s a big if, he stays healthy in 2022, you could be looking at a steal for a pitcher who could give you 170 innings and a 3.0 WAR.

Mariners Target #2: Clayton Kershaw

So this one probably won’t happen. Then again, why not. It still could. It really does seem up in the air for what Clayton Kershaw is going to do in 2022. There are a few options that most think are likely to happen. He either goes back to the Dodgers, signs a deal with his hometown Rangers, or retires.

Look, Kershaw would be pitching his age-34 season in 2022. You would think he has a good amount left in the tank. It doesn’t always happen, as pitchers can sort of just drop off in their early 30s *cough Felix cough*. He also might have concerns with his arm and the injury history surrounding it.

What if though, what if he sees the Mariners, with their nice mix of youth and talent, and decides to give it a run up north in a division that is likely up for grabs with some of the departures that Houston has seen.

A great veteran presence, he could sign a one-year deal for a good chunk of change, slot into the middle of the Mariners rotation, and give them a nice risk/reward option. If he’s hurt or struggles, it’ll suck. I can’t argue that. He would still be there to teach and help, but it would still stink if he wasn’t throwing.

If Kershaw is healthy though, you’re getting a guy who had a 3.00 FIP last year in 121 innings. He’s not the guy he was in his 20s, but he is still an incredible pitcher.

Mariners Target #1: Carlos Rodon

“Rodon? The Mariners already signed Ray. Why would they get Rodon too?”

Why? Because he is one of the top options out there, and the White Sox didn’t give him a qualifying offer. Guess what? If the Mariners sign him to a one-year deal, somewhere around $25 million, they could assign him the QO after 2022, earning a draft pick from someone if he signs with them.

There is definitely risk associated with Rodon. He’s got a history of shoulder problems and has just one season over 140 innings. It’s why a one-year deal for a large chunk of cash would be an interesting proposition. Of course, there is a big IF attached, but if he stays healthy, you have the potential for one of the top rotations in baseball with him and Robbie Ray at the top. Marco-Gilbert-Flexen as your 3-4-5 means you are in a pretty darn good spot.

He still managed 132 innings in 2021, and the team was keeping a pretty watchful eye on how much he threw. Between extended rest, skipped starts, and short outings, they did a good job of keeping him healthy while limiting innings. In a way, it’s a good sign that he’s built up some arm strength and could be ready for 160-180 innings in 2022.

The more I think about it, the more I want something like this to happen. Going after one of the two big-time hitters the Mariners have been rumored to be in contact with (Story and Bryant) is still my number one want, but Rodon could possibly be number two on that list. The potential ceiling for this team with Rodon added into the mix makes for a giddiness that’s hard to explain.

It really does seem like Dipoto is serious about spending more money (well, being told he can and then actually being allowed to), so seeing a big-time hitter and another pitcher signed would be amazing… and might be plausible as well. Adding Rodon would definitely spike the team’s 2022 salary, but it would instantly fault the Mariners into not just a playoff contender, but dare I say a World Series contender to start the season.

What do you think? Should the Mariners go after any of these players as a one-year fill-in until one of the prospects can take over? Let us know what you think.