What does the Mariners’ starting rotation look like in 2020?
For the first time in 15 years there will be no Felix Hernandez in the Seattle Mariners clubhouse.
The former ace pitcher so affectionately known by this fan base as The King has gone to the National League East to try to revive his career with the Braves.
Wade LeBlanc is gone, too. Mike Leake left as part of a trade with the Diamondbacks last summer. In fact, half of the 18 pitchers who made starts for the Mariners — names recognizable or not — during the 2019 season are no longer with the organization.
Where does that leave the Mariners’ starting rotation heading into 2020? Perhaps not quite as deep, or quite as experienced, but it will have a somewhat similar shape.
Grab your pencils — or maybe even your pens — because here’s what it’s going to look like at the top.
Marco Gonzales, who started Opening Day for Seattle last season, and had a career-best season, is back to lead the group.
Yusei Kikuchi had an uneven rookie campaign after coming to the majors following his lengthy career in Japan last season, but the Mariners expect to see a substantial jump this spring.
Those two will be the only returners who spent the entirety of last season with the big league club.
Justus Sheffield is fully expected to slot into the rotation after showing signs of brilliance in a handful of starts last year.
Kendall Graveman, the former A’s pitcher whom the Mariners acquired in November, will also join the mix following a long recovery from Tommy John surgery.
“Those are four you can just write down,” Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said at Thursday’s pre-spring training media luncheon. “They will be in our rotation barring injury or the unexpected.”
As for that fifth spot, there are a few options. Justin Dunn, who earned a September call up last season, should contend for a rotation spot out of camp with other young arms in Seattle’s system.
Dipoto also said Thursday he is still confident the Mariners could add another starter and reliever from the player market to compete for roster spots.
“Obviously it’s a smaller pool than it was when we were at the Winter Meetings, and we knew that was likely,” he said. “We entered this offseason understanding that we were probably going to hit early — and we did with Kendall Graveman and CJ Edwards — and then hit again late.
“And I do think that we’re going to hit late. There’s probably a couple opportunities that are in front of us that could come down in the next 48 or 72 hours. It could be next week. We’ve been, I think what has been to most, shockingly patient, and waiting for the right person on the right contract at the right time for the Mariners, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
But, as long as it takes, Dipoto does certainly intend to add more depth and stability in those two areas by acquiring more arms.
“Right now we feel like we’re eight, maybe nine deep in starting pitching,” he said. “We would like to sign at least one more major league free agent to buoy that group, so to speak. But, again, we want it to be the right person and the right fit for us.”
The Mariners claimed young left-hander Nick Margevicius off waivers from the Padres on Friday afternoon as part of this building process.
The 23-year-old, who debuted for San Diego last March and went 2-6 with a 6.79 ERA, 42 strikeouts and 19 walks across 17 outings (12 starts), was designated for assignment on Jan. 17.
He will be another in competition for Seattle’s fifth rotation spot, though he hadn’t pitched above High-A before making San Diego’s Opening Day roster last season.
This addition plays into Dipoto’s intention to let the kids play this season — whenever they might be ready.
“Then we have a group of younger players — Justin Dunn, we have Phillips Valdez, we have Nestor Cortes, we have Logan Gilbert — that give us what we think are the potential for anything,” he said.
“Anything from a call-up, that can serve as a swing man, fifth starter, long reliever to, in Logan’s case, what we think is a core piece for us as we move forward.”
But, it all starts with Gonzales, who posted career highs in wins (16), starts (34), innings (203) and strikeouts (147) last season and was one of the top starters in the AL in several categories.
“He’s doing everything you’d want him to do when he takes the ball,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “But, even sometimes more important with this group, on the four other days when he’s not on the mound, he’s doing the right thing.
“Marco understands where we’re at. He’s been reaching out to the guys. He knows there’s going to be a young staff, and he’s ready to lead it.”
Gonzales, who will turn 28 years old the first week of spring training, and has pitched in more big league games than Seattle’s other three projected starters, said he wants to watch his teammates throw more on the backfields and in bullpens this spring, so he knows what to expect the days he’s not on the mound, and how to help where he can.
“Something that I’ve been trying to do and trying to accomplish my entire career is be a leader on every team that I’ve been on,” he said. “Be someone that my teammates look to and say, ‘That’s someone that I need to follow. That’s someone that’s the example that needs to be set.’
“If anything, I’ve just tried to become more comfortable in being myself and being confident in that, too.”
As Gonzales acts as an anchor, Servais expects he will see significant progress from his less experienced starters.
Kikuchi, who is 28, finished just 6-11 with a 5.46 ERA in 32 starts his rookie season, but showed signs of why he was one of Japan’s most prized pitchers.
“He’s very anxious to take everything he learned last year and start putting it into play,” Servais said. “And he did learn a ton. He had some great outings. He really did. And he had some that he really struggled.
“But, trying to get down to consistent programs are going to be key for him, and he will have a much better season. Very confident in that.”
Sheffield, the youngest projected starter at 22, made strides in the final month of the season with Seattle after spending time between Triple-A Tacoma and Double-A Arkansas.
He finished 0-1 with a 5.50 ERA in eight games (seven starts), but said he has more confidence entering what should be a much longer stint with the big league club, and wants to be solidified in the starting rotation for years to come by season’s end.
“It’s all about getting comfortable now, and going out and learning every day,” he said.
Graveman, 29, last pitched in May of the 2018 season with Oakland, but said during a conference call in November his recovery has gone well, he believes he still has big league stuff, and he likes what Seattle is trying to build by retooling its roster with young talent.
“There’s opportunity here to pitch and compete,” Graveman said. “I think for me, I experienced that a little bit in Oakland. To see the team Oakland has put together now, we were a bunch of young guys a few years ago, and I have that same feeling with Seattle.
“There’s no secret Seattle hasn’t been to the playoffs in (almost) 20 years. ... I want to come into this organization and help this organization win.”
This story was originally published January 25, 2020 at 5:01 AM.
