Mariners bullpen depth is somewhat unique
The 'pen is a key component for any contending team. Let's see how the '23 edition looks as the season opener awaits.
With relief pitchers there are few automatics. Everything else is a wait-and-see proposition. But considering the volatility of the role, having legitimate depth is a gigantic factor for clubs.
I think the Seattle Mariners are in really good shape in that regard. Let’s examine.
Projected 8-Man Bullpen
Seattle could shake things up a bit by finding a trade partner for Flexen, who fits better as a back-end starter. In that scenario, one of their numerous depth arms fits nicely.
Speaking of…
Bullpen Depth
First of all, when I use the word ‘depth’ I’m talking about legitimate big-league quality pitchers, not just a body that can find a way to fog a mirror. That’s an important distinction, and the entire point of this snapshot.
Casey Sadler, RH
Gabe Speier, LH
Tayler Saucedo, LH
Brennan Bernardino, LH
Juan Then, RH
Isaiah Campbell, RH
Prelander Berroa, RH
Justin Topa, RH
Riley O’Brien, RH
Easton McGee, RH
J.B. Bukauskas, RH
Taylor Williams, RH
Right-handers Bryce Miller, Taylor Dollard, Emerson Hancock, and Bryan Woo are rotation arms, but could be viewed as bullpen depth to some degree at some point, though not likely early in the season as those arms continue developing as starters.
There are several other arms that can be viewed as fill-in options to some degree (Justus Sheffield, Tommy Milone, Ryder Ryan, Darren McCaughan, Blake Weiman, Travis Kuhn, et al), but the above dozen stand out somewhat.
Berroa, Campbell, Then, Sadler all have big-league stuff, and Sadler, once fully healthy, probably sits atop the list. Until then, the short-term leaders to fill voids include Bernardino, Speier, McGee, and Saucedo, provided they’re still in the organization at the start of the minor league season Saturday, and the aforementioned Berroa, Campbell, and Then, all whom have the advantage of being 40-man members already.
An argument can be made the Projected Eight is merely solid rather than elite, because, well, facts are facts. But the upside for such a label exists.
Muñoz could easily take a full step toward being a true relief ace. Brash’s stuff suggests he has that kind of ceiling, too, and there’s certainly a non-zero chance Diego Castillo rediscovers his better slider and gets back to the arm he was when the Mariners traded for him.
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Festa is an arm that could take off a bit in value if he locates his slider better. He was fine last year, and flashed at times, but there’s more in the tank with the breaking ball; in raw terms, it’s a potential plus pitch he sets up with good fastball value, despite ordinary velocity (92.6 mph).
Gott comes to Seattle with some upside, too; it’s a plus cutter and four-seamer, an underrated curveball, and if he can keep the ball in the yard more he could be a very good middle innings option.
Most of the upside I speak of is about the kids, however.
Berroa is 95-100 mph with a future 70-grade slider and at least an outside chance at a plus changeup, too. Even fringe-average control for 6-10 weeks likely get the righty to the majors in a hurry. Berroa may have relief ace upside.
Campbell doesn’t quite have the stuff Berroa does, but it’s an above-average slider and double-plane fastball break at 93-98 mph that intrigues the hell out of me — if he can stay healthy.
Then (pronounced ‘ten’) is up to 98 mph with a projectable slider that’s a bit short at present, but has lost development time to injury, and needs to get some innings under his belt early in 2023. But he, too, could see the majors if he throws strikes and stays off the IL.
In a relief role, even if it’s just an interim role for part of 2023, Miller and Hancock project as above-average arms, especially Miller who could dominate for multiple innings using mostly his 70-grade fastball.
Woo has a real shot to start, but long-term could serve as a high-leverage arm with a legit shot to dominate.
A lot of clubs have arms like these in their systems, but not many have the impact depth on the brink of the majors Seattle does to start 2023. The upside, in the Mariners’ case, is a significant part of the depth. And if any of them break through this season they’ll be joining an already sufficient-to-good group, potentially thrusting the corps into elite status.