Seattle Mariners: How to fix a broken bullpen
It’s evident by now the Seattle Mariners get little relief from their relief pitchers. Here are some ideas for fixing a very broken bullpen.
On Wednesday, we did a story about how the Seattle Mariners get walloped between the fourth and seventh innings. So, of course, not only did the sixth inning get them, but they almost blew a four-run lead in the eighth. Anyone can point out a problem; fixing it is another story.
There are some pitchers on the M’s roster who don’t belong with the big league team. Among starters, Seattle doesn’t have many options, so they will have to either suffer through or make some trades. Maybe 2018 first-round pick Logan Gilbert gets a start or two to see how he stacks up against Major League hitters.
The bullpen is a different situation. Of the 14 relievers used by the Seattle Mariners in 2020, maybe five of them have done a decent job of proving themselves, Taylor Williams (although he was blown up by LAA on Wednesday), Carl Edwards Jr. Yohan Ramirez, Anthony Misiewicz, and Matt Magill. The jury is still out on Taylor Guilbeau, Erik Swanson, and Joey Gerber, who, like Ramirez, are rookies.
One way ticket to Tacoma
People need to go sooner rather than later. The M’s dispatched Zac Grotz (12.00 ERA) to their alternate site on Tuesday. There was a good reason why Bryan Shaw (27.00) was let go by Colorado before the season started. He has been horrible in his four Seattle outings. Thankfully, Shaw finally got a ticket Tacoma on Thursday morning. That leaves Nick Margevicius, Dan Altavilla, and Nestor Cortes Jr. as the most ineffective relievers.
Sending the remaining three out will streamline the bullpen a little more and allow the more effective pitchers to get more turns. In hindsight, Servais would love to have the17.2 innings (20 earned runs) Shaw, Margevicius, Altavilla, and Cortes butchered, back to give to other pitchers.
Altavilla, due to the rocket launcher attached to his right shoulder, might be worth keeping around, but he needs to prove deserves to wear a Mariners uniform. He can start by cleaning up after Sheffield and Dunn in the fourth inning.
Trade Worthy?
The last part of the puzzle to strengthening the M’s bullpen is an up in the air proposition at this point. Seattle Mariners General Manager Jerry DiPoto can make a trade. He certainly has the assets to do so. If making a deal was only that easy.
He needs to ask himself: is a 5-9 team two weeks into a 60-game season, buying or selling. On the one hand, the M’s aren’t very good. Trading away a young player isn’t part of his rebuilding plan. On the other, even four games under .500, with the expanded playoffs, it’s only two games behind Detroit for the final wildcard spot.
A trade like that would be a show of confidence to the youngest team in Major League Baseball.
How do you think the Seattle Mariners should improve their bullpen? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.