Seattle Mariners Offseason Prediction – If The M’s Had The Dodgers Budget
Aug 26, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher
Jason Hammel(40) pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle Mariners Offseason Prediction: Jason Hammel (3 years, $27 million)
Talk of his struggles after being traded to the A’s were slightly overblown. He struggled in his first four starts in the American League, but was lights out after that. He finished the season with two of his best three months in terms of ERA (2.86 in August, 2.20 in September).
Hammel is one of the second tier pitchers on the market, along with Brandon McCarthy, Edinson Volquez, Francisco Liriano, Ervin Santana, Jake Peavy, and a few other solid vets.
Even in this dream budget scenario, I can’t see the M’s spending upwards of $100 million for one of the big three pitchers on the market: Jon Lester, Max Scherzer and James Shields.
Next up: The only remaining hole on the roster