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Seattle Mariners: Should The M’s Add A Frontline Starter?

By Paul Novak

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Should the Mariners add one of the remaining big name pitchers to the rotation for an all-out push at a playoff spot in 2015?

If you haven’t noticed, it’s January. Spring Training is two months away and the Seattle Mariners have added the pieces we expected them to bring in during the offseason, acquiring last year’s home run champion Nelson Cruz in free agency.

Cruz is the big bat we all wanted, and knew we needed to add to the lineup between Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager.

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Many of us, including Lloyd McClendon, wished for TWO middle-of-the-order bats. Although that didn’t happen, the combo of Seth Smith and Justin Ruggiano in right field fills that need and makes the offense seem complete, for now.

So, where else could the Mariners spend money and improve before the season begins?

The rotation?

Max Scherzer and James Shields are still available if you have $100 million+ to spend. Lookout Landing examined spending so much on a starter a few days ago.

Shields, 33, had an impressive season with the American League champion Kansas City Royals. a 14-8 record with a 3.21 ERA will net him a deal worth around $110 million over five years. Something that a “mystery team” has already reportedly offered.

Scherzer, who will turn 31 during the 2015 season pitched to similar results with the Detroit Tigers – throwing 220 innings and going 18-5 with a 3.15 ERA in the process. His age will net him a few more years and a few more dollars too. Baseball people seem to think someone will come closer to $200 million for his services.

Do either of these guys make sense for the Mariners?

Let’s take a look at their rotation.

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These are the guys that the Mariners would consider their best options for a rotation spot if the season began today. Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma are locks. You would assume that J.A. Happ is as well given his salary and the fact Jack Zduriencik gave up Michael Saunders in a trade for him.

That leaves two spots for three viable options. Roenis Elias pitched well enough last season and James Paxton and Taijuan Walker are considered two of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Management could very well go with any combination of the three to fill out the rotation.

If one failed to live up to expectations early on or an injury removed someone from duty, they club would have someone who would be able to fill in.

Now, only one of the previously mentioned guys threw 200+ innings for the M’s last season.

Shields and Scherzer both pitched 220+ innings.

The Mariners could very well add one in an all-out push to compete for the AL West division crown. A rotation with three 200+ inning arms, and/or Paxton, Walker, and Elias would be more than enough to make a serious run for a playoff spot.

Whether the Mariners are willing to devote such a large amount of money to an area that isn’t an alarming need is unknown.

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