The Mariners placed rookie starter Bryce Miller on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 1, on account of a blister. Darren McCaughan and Matt Festa were recalled from Triple-A, with the latter taking the bullpen spot vacated by today’s Trevor Gott trade.
Miller only made it into the fourth inning of last Friday’s start against the Rays. The blister’s emergence coincided with a Randy Arozarena homer that led to Miller’s removal. It’s a setback in what has otherwise been a quality debut season. The 24-year-old righty had allowed three or fewer runs in eight of his first 10 MLB starts, working at least six innings in seven of those outings.
A former fourth-round pick, Miller has developed into a top pitching prospect in pro ball. He had a breakout 2022 campaign in the minors and picked up where he left off this year. Over 59 big league innings, he carries a 3.97 ERA with a solid 23.8% strikeout rate and an excellent 5.2% walk percentage. He has established himself as part of a high-quality rotation also including Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and fellow rookie Bryan Woo.
The M’s don’t have an off day this week, so they’ll need a spot starter or bullpen game to take them into the All-Star Break. It’s unclear whether Seattle anticipates Miller returning when first eligible coming out of the layoff.
This is bad, bad, bad.
They’re down and out now, I’m sorry to say.
Of course we sort of saw this coming, and Bryce may not miss a game, but the psychological blow is the last straw with an already snakebit team.
I think this will evan affect the team tonight against the Giants. Worst case scenario, they’ll just give up and concentrate on staying healthy and getting their perks.
Little over exaggerating…
Your pessimism is rational Fred, but unwarranted. ‘Tis only a blister, and I’m thinking it should heal up in time so Bryce is on the IL for the minimum stay. As for the team, I was very glad and relieved to see them win 2 out of 3 with Tampa Bay. Especially that last game being down 5-1…and winning 7-6. They haven’t had a rebound like that since Game 2 of the ALDS against Toronto last year. There is still time Fred!!! Down but not out.
Okay. I’ll hold back until I see how the team does tonight.
We’ll see the team’s spirit or lack of it by how they play.
Yeah Fred I would wait and see how they play these last two series before the break. It will be San Fran for 3 and Houston for 4. If we can finish out this first half 5-2 or better, that will be very encouraging. Both those teams are playing well and currently hold postseason spots, so it will be a good test !!!
So today on July 4th, Logan Gilbert pitches a complete game shutout over the Giants.
Plus the M’s offense hit the heck out of everything.
And they got back to .500
I don’t mind being wrong this time!
Once Ray was lost for the season we were done! They just don’t score enough runs per game to come out on top and last year we won 90 percent of the one run games! Nobody fears the Mariner lineup this year! How many guys do we have at the Allstar Game? We are a 500 club at this point!
Cardinal fan here. Still willing to trade Montgomery and Donovan for Gilbert. Last time I suggested this Mariners fans acted like it was a crazy idea. Still think so?
I’m not a M’s fan, but that is way too little to get Gilbert. They aren’t doing that.
Why is that too little? Be specific.
Gilbert is a non-starter. Maybe Hancock.
The Mariners have a gaping hole at 2b. Montgomery and Donovan allows you to cover that hole with a legit ballplayer and it covers losing Gilbert. Next year Ray comes back to cover Montgomery.
How is that not a good deal for the Mariners?
And who the heck wants Hancock???
Gilbert is FAR more valuable than Donovan & Montgomery. Cabelero is just as good as what you’re offering.
Montgomery is Gilbert without the 4 additional years of team control. But then you get Donovan for 4 years who is a good player. And again Ray can replace Gilbert so the Mariners still have a good starting 5. Or they could sign some help but 2b and 3b the Mariners need help and that’s what Donovan plays.
And Caballero would still get plenty of playing time. Between him and Donovan you have a backup for 5 different positions even without an injury both guys could get plenty of at bats. Remove Wong and his 449 OPS plus get a guy who can play 3b and corner outfielders and play them pretty well Donovan is a really valuable guy.
Ray won’t return until late June or July at the earliest, and even then, he’s likely going to be rusty.
Seattle may end up trading an arm, but if they do, it’s more likely to be Miller or Hancock.
Not crazy but Mariners would not accept this offer.
It’s still a crazy and stupid idea. The M’s aren’t trading a young, top-of-the-rotation stud, unless it nets a big time bat in return. No GM in baseball would consider your trade.
Gilbert isn’t that great he really isn’t. His ERA is over 4 at the moment.
Look at the Mariners position players. Donovan would be a perfect fit for them. Perfect. He’s a good player WAR says so. MLB trade values says so.
Keep dreaming. It’s been a long time since Bill Bavasi was the gm. So that trade won’t work. And if your bases that Gilbert isn’t that great because his era is over 4 right now, it’s time to stop commenting on baseball and start watching it.
Donovan has a 791 OPS. He plays 2b and 3b and can also play 1b and corner outfield.
If that isn’t the PERFECT player for the Mariners and what they need I don’t know who is.
Gilbert is a good pitcher of course he is. But the Mariners have plenty of pitching. Montgomery is just as good as Gilbert and then Ray can replace Montgomery next year. You get Donovan for 4 years instead of Gilbert.
I don’t get it. Do you simply not care about winning in 2023? If my team was the Mariners I would make that trade.
There is not plenty of pitching in Seattle. You’re clearly clueless if that’s what you think. Miller went on the IL today and Woo will be shut down soon enough as he hasn’t even pitched many professional innings at all. Flexen was also just traded and was gassed. And Marco isn’t close to begin back after being shut down again. Take a look at the injury report. The Mariners don’t have a ton of pitching. And saying Ray can just replace Montgomery next year really isn’t saying much. Ray is the epitome of inconsistent and that contract will continue to look worse by the day. Replace Donovan with Gorman and I’m on board. But it won’t happen, just like your proposal.
Again Montgomery would come with Donovan. And by next year Gonzales will be healthy along with Ray and Miller.
You aren’t making sense. Dude my team sucks in 2023 trade or no trade. Like I said if my team was the Mariners I would do this deal.
Isn’t that great? He’s a kid who’s only getting better. Heck, he threw a complete game shutout against a good SF team last night. Also, he’s near the top of the league in quality starts. He’s going nowhere!
Why would Seattle trade their number two starter for a rental pitcher and powerless utility player?
I know Donovan offers solid PAs, but Seattle isn’t likely moving Gilbert, and if they did, they’d have to get a controllable impact player in the return.
They’re not in contention, so rentals are out of the question.
Kirby
Castillo
Miller
Ray
Gonzales
Woo
That would be the 2024 Mariners rotation. That looks pretty good to me.
Now look at 2b. You have soon to be free agent Wong and his 449 OPS.
Look at 3b. Suarez is getting old.
1b could also use a little help
Donovan would be a perfect fit. He has a 791 OPS. How many Mariners have an OPS better than 791 in 2023? And that ignores his defense for which he won a gold glove last year.
Donovan is like Ben Zobrist. He’s really good. The only reason the Cardinals would consider trading him is the presence of Gorman, Edman and Winn.
I think Donovan has a higher WAR than Gilbert does in 2023. And again you would get Montgomery too.
It makes sense
You’re not looking at this correctly.
Again, Ray isn’t likely going to pitch until later in the year (2024) and his effectiveness isn’t something they’re going to bank on upon activation.. Gonzales is currently injured and may not even be around after the offseason, Woo is on an innings limit and will be shut down before too long. He’ll be handled carefully in 2024 as well.
The goal for Seattle isn’t to have 5 starters, it’s to have 5 excellent starters. Gilbert is, right now, their number two. He’s very much apart of their core.
You’re talking about a TOR starter for a utility player, albeit a good one. But it doesn’t make sense for Seattle,
I do think Seattle would be open to moving Miller, because he’s incredibly similar to Kirby. But Gilbert is likely off-limits.
Ok yeah Ray is out for longer than I thought he was.
Sign someone for a year. Or maybe longer because as you said Gonzales might be on his way out.
You don’t need 5 excellent starters you need 3 or 4 and a good everyday lineup. Who has 5 excellent starters? Nobody does.
You keep saying utility player as if Donovan isn’t one of the better players on the team and as if he doesn’t play pretty much every day. You don’t seem to know who he is.
Montgomery is every bit as good as Gilbert. He’s also a left which is a team need for Seattle. You get Donovan and Montgomery the Mariners are instantly 3 wins better as a team.
You can have ONeill too he can come back home. The Mariners need everyday players they do.
This will be my last response.
1. Seattle does have 5 excellent starters. If nobody else does, good! It’s an advantage for Seattle.
2. I am well aware of who Donovan is and I don’t think he is nearly as valuable as Gilbert.
3. Montgomery, again, would be a rental. Seattle isn’t in contention. They just won their fourth game in a row and have gained zero ground on a wild card. It makes zero sense for them to trade for rentals.
Have a good night. It’s still good to see a fan of another team high on Gilbert. A lot of fans have no idea who he is.
If the Mariners don’t plan on fighting for a playoff spot then no this deal wouldn’t make sense for them.
My team has been buyers at the trade deadline for the last 15 years. It’s been great. I can’t understand as a fan why you would accept defeat so easily. The Caridnals are 15 games under 500. The Mariners have a shot. I don’t get it.
I proposed a trade earlier in the season to the Trade Value website (whatever it’s called) that it liked quite a bit and it was a 1 for 1 trade: Logan Gilbert for Bo Bichette. That would be the sort of return the Mariners would expect for Gilbert, a young elite bat. Donovan is a solid player, but not elite. FWIW I don’t think I would make this trade now, but it’s tantalizing in a way.
Gilbert is not having a good season that’s something to keep in mind. He was better last year. Gilbert looks like a 2 or 3.
Gilbert has been worth .6 BWAR in 2023
Donovan 1.5
Bichette 3.6
Why the heck would the Jays trade Bichette for Gilbert?
You can’t compare WAR between pitchers and batters. It doesn’t work that way. Or at any rate I would only look at WAR when comparing batters to batters and pitchers to pitchers.
Yes WAR absolutely works that way I don’t know why you would think otherwise.
The fact is Gilbert isn’t having a good year. He was really good last year that’s why I think the Cardinals would be interested but he’s not this year.
Kirby is. Kirby looks like a potential ace but I imagine the Mariners would not trade him.
My god, you actually just stated that Gilbert isn’t having a good year!?
He’s a top-20 starter, tied for 18th in fWAR among qualified starters.
The guy is out of his mind and refuses to leave this alone when he has no clue what he’s talking about. Gilbert is going NOWHERE. He said above “Gilbert isn’t that great, he really isn’t” and then Gilbert promptly throws a CG shutout. The guy is off his rocker.
So if Gilbert had pitched poorly would you have came back and reported that???
Donovan had 3 hits tonight his OPS is up to 797.
Dude the Cardinals will be making trades with someone. If it’s not the Mariners then so be it.
Dude I couldn’t care less if they will make some trades with someone. It won’t be for Gilbert
How many times have the Mariners made the playoffs in the last 15 years?
Is that what we’re talking about? I thought we were taking about your bone headed trade proposal… And since you wanted to talk about WAR, our current second baseman, Jose Caballero, who hasn’t even been here the whole year, has a better WAR than Donovan in 20 less games. Yeah, let’s trade a stud pitcher for him.
Trade value simulator doesn’t think my proposal was bone head. Just you and your biased self.
Donovan doesn’t just play 2b. He plays 3b. He plays 1b. He also corner outfield. To act as if you couldn’t use another position player is ridiculous. He would be a great fit.
You have fun missing the playoffs again dude.
Stevie
How is it you mention that Gilbert is a top 20 starter according to Fangraphs and then ignore the fact that Montgomery is as well?
I got an idea. You make this trade then sign Mintgomery in the offseason. Then you have a pitcher AND Donovan who again can play many positions where the Mariners need help.
Why is that not an option?
This very wealthy team should have tried to sign Drury and JD Martinez (to name two) in the off season. Instead, we got Pollock and Wong. Knowledgeable fans are noticing and getting restless and irritated.
Please don’t remind me about JD Martinez. The whole off-season I was screaming for him to be signed to be the DH.
Yeah hindsight is always 20/20. JD Martinez was looking three-quarters of the way to washed last season. His resurgence this year is likely due to hooking up with his old hitting coach in LA, and likely that was the only place he wanted to go for that reason. Drury is a streaky boom or bust hitter whose main attraction is his ability to play multiple positions, none of them that well. AJ Pollock is a professional hitter and it has kinda ticked me off that Servais has jerked him around and barely played him. I wanted Servais to leave him in every day and see what he does. But now we have Ford there so that ship may have sailed, nice jack today though.
It’s not hindsight when the fan makes it clear they were calling for the player before knowing the results.
But please, tell everyone how good you felt when they signed Tommy La Stella.
Hey, I know where the M’s can get a certain special someone to fill in for Miller while he’s out. The Mets just DFAd a SP yesterday who knows his way around Seattle pretty well. BRING IT ON HOME, CHRIS FLEXEN!!!!
Maybe I’m crazy but the M’s had the mojo look in their eyes during the 9th inning last night. And then today, Gilbert with a total gem.
I feel like they may have found the good vibes they had last year around this time.
Clearly they need all the good vibes they can get to overcome the offensive woes and potentially patchwork pitching health. But my gut is telling me that we are gonna have a decent rest of the first half and then rest up….and we’ll let the chips fall where they may in second half.
If a fan can’t recognize the difference in value between a rental player and a player with multiple years of control who is a part of the core of his respective team, and just continues kick a dead horse, it’s probably best for everyone to hit mute and move on.