Jerry Dipoto, the Seattle Mariners’ general manager, is prepared to look for options as the MLB trade deadline draws near so that the team may make their long-delayed return to the playoffs.
Dipoto now wants to change all that by focusing on the most incredible talent that can join the Mariners at the upcoming MLB trade deadline, with Zach Davies and Alex Wood being the ideal options.
During their most recent season, the addition of Tyler Anderson and Joe Smith were not enough to bring the Mariners back to end the protracted playoff drought.
Zach Davies
According to Dipoto, he and the team are now trying to strengthen their starting rotation.
“I’ll reestablish – and I said this last week – our biggest need or our primary objective going into this deadline is to find a way to add to our rotation,” said Dipoto in a statement.
“If that means impact at the top and then some type of timeshare at the back, primarily because we want to help to manage George Kirby’s innings and not overtax him in the second half,” he explained.
Davies has improved so much this year that in 80 innings of pitching, he has accumulated a 3,94 ERA. Through 15 starts in the 2022 season, he utilized to switch up his changeup and limit opponents to a.182 batting average and a six wRC+.
Davies’ inclusion would provide the Mariners with a useful extra lineup option to fill the No. 5 starting position.
As Robbie Ray, Logan Gilbert, Marco Gonzales, and Chris Flexen have all pitched at least 100.0 innings so far this season, they do currently have starters that are strong enough to assist them.
The Mariners, meanwhile, also require more strength from their backup No. 5 starter.
Matt Brash has been given the opportunity to take over the position, but Seattle is concerned about his command troubles and 6.75 ERA. George Kirby is technically a simple alternative for the No. 5 starting spot, but the team did not want to “overtax” him in his debut season.
Alex Wood
The second player that is on Dipoto’s list is reportedly Alex Wood. He still has a one-year deal with the Giants, in contrast to Davies.
For the record, Wood’s performance this season has not been as strong as it was the season before. He only recorded a 99 ERA+ this season, which is lower than the 108 ERA+ he had the previous year.
In addition, he also only earned a 13.9 percent swinging strike percentage with his slider, compared to a 21 percent swinging strike percentage the previous year.
As one of the possibilities with a relatively good track record, Wood has also pitched to a 4.11 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 99:25 K:BB in 100.2 innings across 20 appearances this season.
Apart from that, Dipoto is fairly forthcoming about the choices he has for the looming trade deadline.
“I’m open to anything, and I know we are organizationally open to anything that helps us get better adds impact,” Dipoto noted. “There are potential opportunities, and we have to stay in tune with what they are.”
“When you are in a position like we’re in, you have to be willing to consider everything,” he added.