Cy Young voting exception cost Mariners' Logan Gilbert recognition he deserves

The Seattle Mariners boasted the best starting rotation of any team in MLB last season. Mariners starters posted a league-topping 3.38 ERA over 942 2/3 innings of work.

Not only did Seattle's rotation have the most success keeping runners off the scoreboard, it also logged 31 more innings than the Royals' starters, who clocked the second-most innings of work. Yet, no Mariners arms made the cut to be considered for the American League Cy Young Award.

Righty Logan Gilbert was the undisputed star of Seattle's pitching staff in 2024, as he's been before. He finished with a 3.23 ERA with a team-leading 220 strikeouts, 37 walks, and a league-best 0.887 WHIP in 208 2/3 innings pitched.

Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is a given for Cy Young consideration, and the Baseball Writers' Association of America chose the Royals' Seth Lugo and the Guardians' Emmanuel Clase as nominees alongside him. Based on Gilbert's success, Clase's inclusion seems questionable.

Mariners ace Logan Gilbert snubbed as Cy Young finalist in favor of Emmanuel Clase

Clase's 2024 season was incredible, and that is undeniable. He posted a jaw-dropping 0.61 ERA with a 0.659 WHIP, an AL-leading 47 saves, 66 strikeouts and 10 walks in 74 1/3 innings. Despite his outstanding numbers — which rival the likes of the greatest closer of all time early in his career — it's hard to argue that a closer holds the same value as a starter of Gilbert's caliber.

Clase posted one of the greatest seasons of all time from a reliever, which is certainly why the voters felt compelled to include him in a race he has little to no chance of winning. In fairness, Gilbert would also have a slim chance against Skubal's 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts. Still, relievers and starters are hardly comparable in terms of value to their pitching staff, sheerly based on innings pitched and the fact they face every lineup's best hitters multiple times every time they're on the mound.

What's done is done, and Clase's unbelievable season earned him the Cy Young finalist nod. He's the first reliever to be named as a finalist since Francisco Rodríguez in 2008. But Mariners fans won't be forgetting Gilbert's incredible season despite all the factors that went against him in 2024.