The Seattle Mariners will soon have a rotation problem. Between Luis Castillo, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Logan Gilbert, Emerson Hancock and Logan Evans, the team has seven good starting pitchers.
Yes, it is a good problem to have, but it is still a problem. Emerson Hancock and Logan Evans suddenly have value. They have both proven themselves as capable starters on a big league level and have both made significant strides in their combined 14 starts so far this season.
However, with the returns of Miller and Gilbert to the rotation, there won’t be room for all seven pitchers. Evans just tossed eight innings of one-run baseball against the Nationals. In six starts, he has a sub-three ERA and has been the team’s third-best pitcher this year. His reward was a trip back to Triple-A Tacoma.
Do the M’s really want two solid arms wasting time in Triple-A? What is the solution here? I have three suggestions.
Option 1: Trade for a bat
The Mariners do not need seven good starting pitchers. Sure, it’s nice to have that luxury, but as we found out last year, even with a full season of elite starting pitching, offense is important. The Mariners’ lack of offense in 2024 prevented them from making the playoffs.
The Mariners could offer up either Emerson Hancock or Logan Evans as a trade chip for a bat. The team could use help at multiple positions (third base, right field, first base) and would benefit from a trade as soon as last week.
Or, if they want to get bigger, they could offer someone like Kirby or Gilbert in trade. However, both pitchers have lost some value with their injuries at the beginning of the season, so perhaps they should wait to trade a bigger fish until the offseason.
Option 2: Stretch somebody out in relief
The obvious choice here is Logan Evans. The Mariners did try to convert Evans into a relief role last year in Double-A Arkansas, but ultimately decided to stick with him as a starter. However, if the Mariners do need bullpen help (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t), Evans could be an option.
However, another option could be to convert Bryce Miller, at least temporarily, into a reliever. Miller has struggled the deeper he’s gone into games this year, looking fatigued. A 15-day IL stint supposedly is enough to fix him, but what if it isn’t? If Miller continues to struggle to go deep into games without falling apart, he could be transitioned into a one or two-inning reliever. It would allow either Hancock or Evans to keep their spot in the rotation.
Option 3: Six-man rotation
Probably my least favorite, but this is an option. The Mariners could opt to go with a six-man rotation, prioritizing the health of their starters over the depth of their bullpen. Of course, the downside is that the aces (Woo and Castillo) would get fewer turns on the mound, and the team would have to sacrifice a spot in their bullpen.
