Robbie Ray (Pending Physical) is a Seattle Mariner

Joe Swenson   |  

Dec 3, 2021

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This free agency has seen the Seattle Mariners add an All-Star. Now they’re adding the reigning AL Cy Young winner. Let’s examine this signing closer.

Reigning American League Cy Young Award Winner Robbie Ray is now a Seattle Mariner (pending physical). The 30-year-old former 12^th round pick by the Nationals is now on your Seattle Mariners. What does that mean?

Is Robbie Ray The Answer

On paper? Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt. He is 30 years old and is coming off of his most dominant season that resulted in the American League Cy Young Award. Ray is a two-pitch pitcher that also throws a curveball and a change-up 9% of the time. He lives on a 4-seam fastball that averages 95 miles per hour. Last year it was hit at a .222 clip and 24.6% of Ray’s 248 strikeouts were from the fastball.  His slider though is absolutely unhittable. Batters hit .173 against it and his 45.8% whiff rate, meaning that half the time a hitter swung at the pitch, they missed, is really amazing. Batters hit .173 against his slider, but it’s a unique slider.

His fastball velocity has improved every year since 2019 when he was at 92.4 MPH. In fact, the speed on all of his pitches has risen by 2-5 MPH depending on the pitch. Ray’s slider doesn’t break as much as most lefties with their hard-breaking wipe-out sliders. Instead, this slider has a bit of dip to it and a late break that makes it work like a cut-sinker, instead of your traditional slider. The slider’s late break and Ray’s command of the pitch from the same arm slot as his fastball is what really messes with the hitter.

His health would be the final question that fans would have. For all the right reasons. Chris Flexen was Seattle’s only starter to not miss a single start all season. In the last 8 seasons, Robbie Ray has had at least 23 starts (MLB + Minors).  He hasn’t missed a start since 2018 where he spent a month on the IL but still managed 24 big league starts with 2 rehab starts. In 8 seasons he’s only been on the IL twice; 2017 and 2018.  He’s missed an estimated total of 10 big league starts in his career and has 189 starts.  Last season, he achieved many league highs in games started (32), innings (193.1), and strikeouts (248). He also had a league-low 2.84 Era.

Next: Page 2 – Starting Rotation

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