The best & worst Mariners free-agent contracts handed out in the last 20 years

Carlos Silva sets a sour precedent

Before there was Robbie Ray, there was Carlos Silva. The right-hander was the Mariners’ first big-time pitching signing in free agency, and he was certainly the club’s biggest bust. When Seattle inked a four-year, $48 million deal with the former Twins starter prior to the 2008 season, the team hoped he would stabilize the thin rotation. After all, Silva averaged more than 190 innings per year in his time with Minnesota.

Silva was also a control artist. He ranked in the top five in BB/9 each season between 2004-2007. This skill gave the Mariners’ rotation, which featured power pitchers Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard at the time, a different look.

Perhaps the Mariners overlooked some areas of concern, though. Silva had a career 4.31 ERA and a penchant for coughing up home runs. In his first season in Seattle, he gave up 20 round-trippers in his 28 starts.

The 2008 season was full of disappointment for the Mariners. General manager Bill Bavasi and manager John McLaren both lost their jobs in June, and the team finished with 101 losses despite a payroll in excess of $100 million. In fact, Seattle’s payroll was more than double the payroll of the other 100-loss team that year, the Nationals.

Silva played a role in both the financial woes and on-field issues in 2008-09. According to win probability added, he cost the team 3.7 wins in his first season and a remarkable 1.2 wins in just eight games in his second year with the squad. He spent most of 2009 recovering from shoulder trouble.

The Mariners continued to be saddled with Silva even when he no longer suited up for the team. Seattle paid $9 million towards the pitcher’s salary after trading Silva to the Cubs for outfielder Milton Bradley. Bradley disappointed over two years with the Mariners, slashing .209/.298/.351.

Even deals with some success, such as Cano’s 10-year contract, have been mired in concern and occasional controversy. With such a mottled legacy of free agency, it comes as no wonder that Jerry Dipoto and company have been cautious in recent years. Spending big has not always guaranteed winning big, especially in Seattle, and despite the billion dollar World Series this year, there is still hope for the little guy. With a few shrewd moves, the Mariners could reverse their recent free agency fate.