Mariners Spring Training: Three Players to Watch
By Ben Renner
1. Yovani Gallardo
The veteran may not be asked to stretch himself out as much as the younger players showing up for Mariners Spring Training in Peoria, but Gallardo enters the season a question mark. As my co-editor Paul Taylor wrote a month ago, Gallardo was an uninspiring addition to the rotation, at least on paper. In his lone year with Baltimore last season, Gallardo only lasted 118.0 innings, his lowest output since an injury-plagued 2008 season with Milwaukee at age 22.
Arm injuries and likely age sapped Gallardo’s velocity last year, contributing to his fast decline.
Now 30, Gallardo has to prove himself all over again after enjoying a career as a valuable innings-eater up until last season. His 5.42 ERA last year was a full two runs higher than his ERA with Texas in 2015. Arm injuries and likely age sapped Gallardo’s velocity last year, contributing to his fast decline. He’ll have to show Servais and Mariners pitching coach Mel Stottemyre Jr. that he can either regain his velocity or find a new way to miss bats in Spring Training this year, or the player the Mariners got in the Seth Smith flip might be moved to the bullpen or off the team altogether.
On paper, Gallardo figures to be a prime bounce-back candidate who should benefit from improved outfield defense and the run-suppressing tendencies of Safeco Field. Getting one’s velocity up again in Spring Training is no easy task for any pitcher. Gallardo will have to show up on Valentine’s Day ready to prove he’s not washed up to keep his spot in the rotation.