Where are they now: Mariners’ 2016 bullpen shines compared to last year’s group
May 16, 2016, 5:16 PM | Updated: 5:21 pm
Former Mariners reliever Danny Farquhar, who was traded to the Rays this offseason, was demoted to Triple-A Saturday. (AP)
(AP)
Despite a forgettable series over the weekend, the Mariners’ overhauled bullpen still sits among the best in the American League. The team’s pitching staff’s combined 3.37 ERA is good for third lowest in the AL, which is in stark contrast to last year’s group that finished 12th out of the 15 teams.
Related: Three things: Questions re-emerge after Mariners swept by Angels
While a number of Seattle’s key bullpen arms recover from injury, here is a look at how some of the names from the 2015 ‘pen are holding up in other uniforms so far this season:
Carson Smith
2015| Innings pitched: 70.0 | ERA: 2.31 | W/L: 2-5 | Holds: 22 | WHIP: 1.01 | Saves: 13
2016| Innings pitched: 2.2 | ERA: 0.00 | W/L: 0-0 | Holds: 0 | WHIP: 1.13 | Saves: 0
After leading the Mariners’ group in 2015 with 22 holds, Smith didn’t make his 2016 debut with the Red Sox until May 4 because of a forearm strain.
Fernando Rodney
2015| Innings pitched: 50.2 | ERA: 5.68 | W/L: 5-5 | Holds: 7 | WHIP 1.50 | Saves: 16
2016| Innings pitched: 16.0 | ERA: 0.00 | W/L: 0-1 | Holds 0 | WHIP: .88: | Saves: 10
After a 48-save season in 2014, Rodney was exiled from Seattle after blowing six saves in 22 chances. He has recovered nicely in San Diego, shooting plenty of imaginary arrows while not giving up an earned run as the Padres’ closer.
Mark Lowe
2015| Innings pitched: 36.0 | ERA: 1.00 | W/L: 0-1| Holds: 12 | WHIP: 1.17| Saves: 0
2016| Innings pitched: 12.1 | ERA: 8.76 | W/L: 1-2 | Holds: 6 | WHIP: 1.38 | Saves: 0
Lowe was a solid member of Seattle’s bullpen in 2015 before being shipped to Toronto at the trade deadline. He has been roughed up in May while working as a setup men for Detroit’s closer Francisco Rodney.
Danny Farquhar
2015| Innings pitched: 51.0 | ERA: 5.12 | W/L: 1-8 | Holds: 8 | WHIP: 1.37 | Saves: 1
2016| Innings pitched: 5.1 | ERA: 3.38 | W/L: 0-0 | Holds: 1 | WHIP: 1.69 | Saves: 0
Farquhar fell off in 2015 after two productive seasons in Seattle’s bullpen. He was part of the seven-player trade that brought Nathan Karns to the Mariners. On May 14, the Rays sent Farquhar to Triple-A Durham via optional waivers, meaning no one put in a waiver claim.
Joe Beimel
2015| Innings pitched: 47.1 | ERA: 3.99 | W/L: 2-1 | Holds: 6 | WHIP: 1.37 | Saves: 1
2016| N/A
The 39-year-old was signed to a minor league deal by the Miami Marlins on May 12 and hasn’t yet been called up to the majors this season.
Tom Wihelmsen
2015| Innings pitched: 62.0 | ERA: 3.19| W/L: 2-2 | Holds: 7 | WHIP: 1.37 | Saves: 13
2016| Innings pitched: 15.1 | ERA: 9.98 | W/L: 2-2 | Holds: 3 | WHIP: 2.15 | Saves: 0
The Rangers demoted Whilmensen to Triple-A Monday after major early-season struggles. The 32-year-old spent five solid seasons in Seattle, but has allowed multiple home runs in an inning three times this year for Texas.
Logan Kensing
2015| Innings pitched: 15.1 | ERA: 5.87 | W/L: 2-1 | Holds: 9 | WHIP: 1.24 | Saves: 0
2016| Innings pitched: 4.2 | ERA: 2.14 | W/L: 0-0 | Holds: 0 | WHIP: 2.14 | Saves: 0
The right-handed reliever was designated for assignment in April after mainly mop-up duty for the Tigers.
