Seattle Mariners Top 5 Candidates for 2020 closer role
Carl Edwards Jr. (Photo by Arturo Pardavilla III, via Flickr)
Carl Edwards Jr.
Another free agent pitcher the Seattle Mariners signed during the off-season is Carl Edwards Jr. The South Carolina native had three solid seasons as a setup man for the Chicago Cubs before 2019, and the numbers show he was getting better. From 2016-18, Edwards pitched 154.1 innings, with 204 strikeouts, 3.03 ERA, and 1.06 WHIP. Last year, he had shoulder issues that stopped whatever momentum he had built.
In 2019, Edward’s ERA ballooned to 5.87 for the Cubs in 20 appearances. He was shipped to San Diego at the trade deadline and was worse than before. In a brief call up, Edwards pitched in two games and put up a 32.40 ERA in 1.2 innings. The Padres tried to send him back to the minors. As was his right under the CBA, he refused the assignment, becoming a free agent.
M’s General Manager Jerry Dipoto signed Edwards on the chance he can get back to the days when he was an effective setup pitcher for the Cubs. Anything close to his pre-2019 strikeout rate of 1.36 batter per inning will make him a valuable member of the bullpen. It’s likely Edwards sticks with the team as a middle to late innings reliever.
In a pinch, manager Scott Servais could use him as a closer. However, like Hirano, Edwards hasn’t had much success in the role. He has only converted two of nine chances to save a game.
Win #98: Carl Edwards Jr's strikeout finishes a 5-0 win over the Cardinals. 98th victory is the most since 1945. @WGNNews pic.twitter.com/gQqC2tnBK5
— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) September 23, 2016