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Seattle Mariners: A few questions must be answered for pen to improve in 2019

By Herbert Nightingale

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 03: Edwin Diaz #39 of the Seattle Mariners greets Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais after getting the save against the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field on September 3, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 03: Edwin Diaz #39 of the Seattle Mariners greets Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais after getting the save against the Baltimore Orioles at Safeco Field on September 3, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA: Sam Tuivailala #62 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the seventh inning in his debut for the team against the Houston Astros at Safeco Field on July 31, 2018. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

Bullpen candidates – Longshots

Veteran Ryan Cook, an American League all-star in 2012, was signed by Seattle in 2016 as a minor league free agent. He made his first MLB appearance since 2015 on May 17. Cook could stick around for added depth.

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Matt Festa is a Mariners prospect who started the year in Double-A. Since July he has been up and down with Seattle. A seventh-round draft pick in 2016, he is hard thrower like Diaz. The Mariners will want to get a good look at him in spring training next March. Additionally, Fiesta could be part of any trade Seattle make this off-season as well.

Sam Tuivailala, who the Mariners picked up at the trade deadline from St. Louis, has appeared in 101 Major league games since his first appearance in 2014. He hasn’t seen much action with the Mariners after he was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right Achilles. Tuivailala needed surgery for the tendon injury and will start 2019 on the disabled list when the season begins. The Mariners are hoping he’ll be available next summer because he could have a bright future in Seattle.

Another relief pitcher has been bit hard by the injury bug this season is Nick Vincent. An early season groin strain altered his mechanics and most likely led to one the worst home run to innings pitched ratio of his career. He spent a month on the disabled list through the end of June but hasn’t been the pitcher Seattle expected him to be this year.

Neither trade deadline acquisitions, Adam Warren and Zach Duke will likely be retained after this year.

A too-long season. dark. Next

Depending on what Dipoto sees out on the market he could get a reliever to pitch the seventh inning then move back Nicasio and or Pazos to the sixth or earlier. The Seattle Mariners’ bullpen will be better next year whether it’s by adding another pitcher or using the staff differently.

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