PEORIA, Ariz. \u2014 The Seattle Mariners\u2019 starting rotation had to do too much for too long. It had to carry a lineup that couldn\u2019t stop striking out and an ownership group that struck out looking every offseason. It had to stack strikeouts and quality starts for six consecutive months, avoiding injury in an era terrorized by Tommy John. It had to be everything for a taped-together team \u2014 at least, until the trade deadline. It had to be the overwhelming reason this team could contend.<\/p>\n
As I wrote on March 25, 2025: \u201cSo, it\u2019s the same old story. For Seattle to sniff postseason play, its starting pitching has to be the best in baseball. Again.\u201d<\/p>\n
You can see how I came to that conclusion. Last offseason, the Mariners\u2019 impact additions were \u2014 *checks notes* \u2014 31-year-old oft-injured infielder Jorge Polanco, undersized 37-year-old utility man Donovan Solano and 30-year-old journeyman first baseman Rowdy Tellez. They entered Opening Day with mammoth question marks at first, second and third base. Tellez hadn\u2019t had a WAR above zero since 2022. Solano had 40 homers in 11 MLB seasons. The Mariners\u2019 order didn\u2019t have a back half.<\/p>\n
That was then.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a new story now.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, remarkably, the Mariners may have the American League\u2019s most complete roster. They re-signed fan favorite first baseman Josh Naylor and added do-everything All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan. They signed veteran Rob Refsnyder to mash lefties. They traded for 25-year-old Jose A. Ferrer, adding a second lethal lefty in the bullpen. They brought back five All-Stars, headed by MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh and MVP hopeful Julio Rodr\u00edguez.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to pitch against us,\u201d Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller said Thursday. \u201cI think it\u2019s going to be a lot of fun watching the offense this year. We\u2019re going to score a lot of runs, and I think we\u2019re going to be one of the best pitching staffs in the league. Those two combinations I think are a pretty good recipe for success and for winning the division and reaching our goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s refreshing to write, and believe, that Seattle doesn\u2019t have to have baseball\u2019s best starting rotation to reach those goals.<\/p>\n
The question is whether this starting staff can still be baseball\u2019s best.<\/p>\n
Because after several seasons of remarkable consistency, injuries intervened in 2025. Luis Castillo was Seattle\u2019s only starter to avoid the injured list. A crew that led MLB with 92 quality starts in 2024 mustered 67 (21 from Bryan Woo) a season later. The Mariners\u2019 rotation slid to 13th in MLB in ERA (3.97), 14th in FanGraphs WAR (11.0) and 21st in homers per nine innings (1.32).<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t a Lamborghini caroming off a cliff. The Mariners\u2019 rotation was still effective, if unfamiliarly fallible.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this game, obviously you learn a lot every single day. But I think you learn a little bit more when you go through tougher times,\u201d Mariners manager Dan Wilson said Friday. \u201cSome of those guys on the mound went through injuries last year. Those are tougher obstacles to overcome. Logan [Gilbert] going on [the injured list] for the first time was something he had to get over at some point. I think these guys learned a lot, and they\u2019re ready to take what they learned and put it to use on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, Woo must prove he can stay healthy after missing the ALDS with a pectoral injury. Miller must prove he\u2019s still the starter that ascended in 2024. Gilbert and George Kirby must prove they can reclaim their All-Star form. Luis Castillo must prove he can still deliver at age 33. The Mariners must prove there\u2019s an undeniable ace among them, and that last season\u2019s health hiccups were an aberration.<\/p>\n
OK, maybe not \u201cmust,\u201d considering the Mariners\u2019 improved supporting cast.<\/p>\n