Houston and Texas have thrown money at the American League West to take control of division.
Seattle is throwing young, controllable starting pitching into the equation in a bid to step in.
“Probably the greatest asset you can have in the game is young, controllable pitching,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “It’s exciting.
“We love our guys.”
Houston entered the 2024 season with a payroll of $249 million, a figure that includes $30 million infielders Jose Altuve and Alex Bergman and $22 million right-hander Justin Verlander, who will open the season on the injured list.
Texas’ payroll is $229 million, a sum buoyed by 2022 free agents Corey Seager (10 years, $325 million) and Marcus Semien (seven years, $175 million) and 2023 pitching additions Nathan Eovaldi and John Gray ($90 million combined) a year ago. Not to mention the $185 million sent to injured free agent Jacob deGrom.
The Mariners?
They are countering with a $30.5 million starting rotation, several proven offensive weapons to place around MVP candidate Julio Rodriguez, and a busload of faith.
Luis Castillo is the ace of the staff and the most expensive after signing a five-year, $108 million contract extension before last season. The deal includes a full no-trade clause from 2023-25 and a 2028 vesting option worth $25 million.
He is the lone ranger on this staff. No. 3 Logan Gilbert will earn $4.5 million this season, the first of his four arbitration-eligible seasons and No. 2 George Kirby, No. 4 Bryce Miller and No. 5 Emerson Hancock are playing for a little more than the 2024 major league minimum salary of $740,000.
The Mariners opening day salary was about $141 million, far below their top rivals.
“The strength of our ball club is our pitching,” Servais said. “Those guys were phenomenal last year. The key is to keep them healthy. Last year we lost a couple of our veteran starters during the year. That created an opportunity for the kids to come up and they stepped right did and did an awesome job.”
Miller and initial No. 5 Brian Woo stepped into the 2023 rotation after injuries to Robbie Ray and Marco Gonzales. Woo, who opened the season on the disabled list, also is playing for just over the minimum. Hancock has taken his spot in the rotation for the time being.
“With Luis kind of anchoring down the top end of our rotation, you have Logan and George who are competitive right after it,” Servais said. “I feel we have three guys who could start on opening day for a lot of different clubs.
“We are fortunate in that regard. I do think the team that stays the healthiest in our division probably ends up winning it. Hopefully we can be that club. A ton of credit to our developmental people. Our pitching coordinators, our pitching guys throughout the organization, getting these kids ready so when they come to the big league level, they can step in and contribute right away.”
The Mariners are not alone in their positivity. Oddsmakers bought into Seattle’s future in lines released prior to opening day Thursday. The M’s projected victory total this season rose from 85 1/2 to 87 1/2 as the spring continued, according to Betonline sportsbook.
Houston was listed at -450 to make the playoffs and the Rangers were at -160. Seattle was listed at +275, perhaps that low because of the perceived power at the top of the division.
The Seattle rotation on paper could be considered the best in the division, and with it the Mariners are a threat to disrupt the Lone Star axis of power.
Acquired from Cincinnati at the 2022 trade deadline, Castillo helped the Mariners into the first playoff series in 21 years that year. He was their ace last season, going 14-9 with a 3.34 ERA while finishing seventh in the major leagues with 219 strikeouts.
Castillo struggled somewhat in the Mariners’ season opener, giving up for runs — and a homer to Rafael Devers — in five innings of a 6-4 loss to Boston at T-Mobile Park on Thursday. Outings like that are rare. Castillo gave up four runs or more in only seven starts a year ago, and only once gave up more than five.
Kirby stepped in with 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the Mariners’ 1-0 victory over Boston on Friday. He gave up only two hits, both singles, and walked two while striking out eight.
Former Seattle third baseman Eugenio Suarez, traded to Arizona in the offseason, has seen the Mariners starters first-hand for the past two seasons while hitting 53 homers in support.
“They can be good,” Suarez said. “I know what they can do. I think they have a really good rotation.”
“When you have guys like Luis Castillo, with his experience and talent. George Kirby, for me personally, I love him. I love to watch him. The way he competes. The way he prepares to pitch every five days is really fun to watch.”