Mariners Pitching

The first four starters should be automatic.

Luis Castillo,  Logan Gilbert, Robbie Ray 

and George Kirby.  The 5th starter is the

one up for competition.

Right now the Mariners  have Marco

Gonzales  and Chris Flexen  as the two 

veterans competing for the 5th spot. 

Both could  be traded before or during 

training camp. Either one could be in

the Mariners  bullpen to. Both ones  

salaries are high to be in the bullpen.

Marco hasn't  pitched out of the bullpen

since being  with the Mariners. Both

he and Flexen would likely pitch multiple 

out of the bullpen. The question is how

spots be available for them. Most likely 

the Mariners  will go with eight pitchers

in the bullpen.

Emerson  Hancock  number one pick by

the Mariners in 2020 is the likely candidate 

of the youngsters  to be the fifth starter. He

could begin the season  in double-A Arkansas 

and be called up in May like George Kirby.

Two other youngsters are #5 prospect Bryce

Miller and #7 prospect Taylor Dollard. They

to could start at double-A Arkansas as well. 

A lot may depend on the health of the starters

as well.

The bullpen as I  said will likely  be  eight.

There are five that are almost for sure.

There is Paul Sewald and Diego Castillo 

as the veterans along with Andres Munoz, 

Matt Brash and Penn Murfee coming into

their second season. Munoz and Brash may

make their ways into the end of the bullpen.

Depending  on the others competing for the

bullpen we could see Diego Castillo being

dealt to a team needing  a veteran in their bullpen

This means the Mariners  may have two spots

open in the bullpen if either Gonzales or Flexen

go the bullpen. The Mariners acquired Chris Clarke 

in the rule 5 draft in December so he has to be

on the roster or sent back to  the  Chicago Cubs.

The Mariners  had Matt Festa most of last season 

as well. 

The Mariners  signed Casey Sadler to a minor league 

contract in December.  Sadler  missed all last season 

because of injury.  In 2021 Sadler had an outstanding 

season for the Mariners so if he is healthy and a strong 

spring  training  could be on the roster. The Mariners 

traded for Justin  Topa from the  Milwaukee Brewers

in January. They will have other minor leaguers invited 

to camp to. It will be interesting to  see what the bullpen

will look like coming out of camp. Go M's. 7