Top 10 Mariners Players Right Now: #1 Robbie Ray

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Robbie Ray #38 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch to the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth inning at Tropicana Field on September 20, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Robbie Ray #38 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch to the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth inning at Tropicana Field on September 20, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Due to the lockout, we have not seen the MLB Network Top 10 players at each position, so this Top 10 Mariners players right now has been a good way to showcase the top talent that the Mariners have on their roster. It has finally reached the number one player on the Mariners roster, and that is the newest Mariner on the roster, and that is starting pitcher Robbie Ray, who is coming off of winning the American League Cy Young award.

Top 10 Mariners Players Right Now: #1 Robbie Ray

BUFFALO, NEW YORK – JULY 04: Robbie Ray #38 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sahlen Field on July 04, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – JULY 04: Robbie Ray #38 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sahlen Field on July 04, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images) /

Looking at the current Mariners roster, it is very easy to see that Ray is the best player currently. He immediately slots in at the top of the M’s rotation, and gives them a big game pitcher. He is not necessarily a true “Ace” in my eyes because I think that an “Ace” is one of the best of the best, and he is not quite on that short list.
However, he is certainly a number one pitcher and would be the go to if the Mariners found themselves in a one game wild card.

Last year Robbie Ray really burst onto the scene after being a middling starting with the Diamondbacks for a while. He had never been able to be able to control his pitches, until last year. He finally got consistent in his delivery and mechanics with the Toronto Blue Jays, and he had a huge year. He started 32 games, pitched 193.1 innings, had a 2.84 ERA, struck out 248 batters, all leading the American League in 2021.

The best part about signing Ray was that it was so unexpected and it came out of nowhere. No one thought that the Mariners were going to sign the American League Cy Young award winner because they all thought he would go to a bigger market team for a big contract. Certainly he did get a very good contract with the M’s for 5 years and $115 million, but that is not an overpay at all.

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The hope is that Ray can lead the rotation back to the promised land and be a driving force for the Mariners getting back into the playoffs. Even though the lockout sucks and the season being delayed is truly awful, having Robbie Ray is great!
If he has another year like he did last year, then he will be back in the Cy Young conversation and have the Mariners in serious playoff contention. It will be amazing to see what he can do in year one in Seattle.