Mariners getting ‘good signs’ that bullpen could be a strength

For much of the 2024 season, the Seattle Mariners struggled to bridge the gap between their MLB-best starting rotation and All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz.

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And with Seattle playing in so many low-scoring games that offered little to no room for error, those issues were magnified. The Mariners finished around league average with 27 losses in relief, but given how dominant both their rotation and Muñoz were, that was a pretty significant number.

This year, however, there’s optimism that Seattle’s bullpen could be much improved. That hope centers largely on a return to health for hard-throwing right-hander Gregory Santos, high-leverage right-hander Matt Brash and lefty Gabe Speier.

Mariners broadcaster Gary Hill Jr. explained on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob that the early signs have been encouraging.

“One of the struggles they had last year was the bridge to Muñoz and trying to figure that out,” Hill said. “And they had some real struggles for a lot of the season until it got stabilized late with (Collin) Snider and (Troy) Taylor. So I’ve been watching that situation pretty closely. I’ve been pretty encouraged by what we’ve seen so far. … I think we’ve had some good signs early.”

Speier, who had a strong first season with the Mariners in 2023, Speier struggled through a rough 2024 with shoulder issues and a velocity dip. That velocity seems to have returned, with Speier averaging 95.2 mph on his four-seam fastball this season after dropping to 93 mph last year, according to Baseball Savant.

The results have been there, too. Speier has retired eight of the nine batters he’s faced over 2 2/3 scoreless innings, while racking up four strikeouts and allowing just one hit.

As one of just two lefties among the Mariners’ regular relievers, Speier is a particularly important part of the bullpen. His value was on display in Seattle’s 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, when he bridged the gap between Luis Castillo’s seven innings and Muñoz’s ninth-inning save. Speier retired all three batters he faced, including lefty slugger Riley Greene, who homered in the previous two games.

“I think that’s a real difference-maker for the Mariners, especially when you look at a team like Detroit,” Hill said. “… When you have (Kerry) Carpenter and Greene – two lefties – hitting back to back in a big spot, you need that lefty to go get those guys. That’s why (Speier) is so important.”

Santos, meanwhile, is off to a good start after missing nearly all of last season with a variety of injuries. He’s thrown three scoreless innings across three appearances, while sporting his devastating sinker-slider combo. His sinker has averaged 98.4 mph, while his slider has averaged 90.3 mph.

“I’ve been really encouraged by Santos,” Hill said. “I think he’s looked really good his first couple times. His stuff is wicked.”

And then there’s the impending return of Brash, who was a standout in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2024 season. The hard-throwing “pivot” man returned to action in the Mariners’ Cactus League finale on March 24 and is nearing a rehab stint.

In addition, rookie Troy Taylor began his rehab assignment on Monday and reached 97.9 mph. The 2022 draft pick made his MLB debut last August and quickly emerged as a key piece in Seattle’s bullpen, so his return would also be a major plus.

“You envision when Brash is back and Taylor is back and you still have (Collin) Snider and Speier and Santos, you can see how this thing could really be a menace leading to Muñoz,” Hill said. “It would turn from what was shaky last year to a real strength this year.”

Listen to the full conversation with Mariners broadcaster Gary Hill Jr. at this link or in the audio player near the top of this post. Tune in to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2 to 7 p.m. on Seattle Sports.

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