Should the Mariners sign Shaun Marcum?
After, the trade of Jason Vargas, the Mariners are looking for a veteran starter to join the rotation. Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports tweeted that sources have told him that Lohse is too pricey, Saunders wants three years. The Mariners do not want to give three years to Saunders in a deal. Out of the options remaining on the open market Marcum seems like the logical choice for the M’s.
Marcum would probably take a multi year deal and would not force the Mariners into a 3rd year. In his 7 year career Marcum has a record 57-36 with an ERA of 3.76 for the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers. He has made 2 starts at Safeco Field with a record of 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 9 1/3 innings. It’s a small sample size but Marcum has had a little success at the Safe. Marcum has the same pitching style as Vargas. Neither pitcher has overpowering stuff but get people out by using their off-speed pitches.
Here are the head to head statistics for each pitcher over the last 3 seasons. Jason Vargas compiled 96 starts, 33-36 record, 3.96 ERA, 611 innings pitched, 388 strikeouts and 61 quality starts. While Marcum has compiled 85 starts, 33-19 record, 3.62 ERA, 520 innings pitched, 432 strikeouts and 52 quality starts. The numbers for both pitchers are pretty much even over the 3 year time period. Marcum could instantly come into the rotation and put up the same kind of numbers as Vargas. He would also add another veteran presence to the rotation. This move would give the trio of pitching prospects James Paxton, Danny Hultzen and Taijaun Walker time to further develop in the Minors.
This is a move the Mariners should seriously consider making. All off season long the team has been acquiring players that can be a veteran presence on this young team. Marcum could fill that role and be a very solid addition to the starting rotation. Please comment and let me know if you agree with this move or not.
Marcum would be an interesting pickup. Although I would like to point out that both Vargas and Marcum are flyball pitchers. Although Vargas’ rate (44.6%) is higher than Marcum’s (42.3%) he was able to maintain a lower HR/FB rate mostly thanks to Safeco’s pitching friendly confines. Safeco’s dimensions are coming in, which was going to hurt Vargas and will no doubt hurt Marcum.
I’d push for signing Aaron Cook. He’d be cheaper and on a one year deal and has a career 57.5% GB% and a 23.5% FB%. I think with the high grade defense the Mariners have, it’d be better to get a groundball pitcher than to test the confines with a guy like Marcum; whose FB% is accompanied with a 10.4% HR/FB rate.
Marcum does have a high fly ball rate but managed to have success with the Blue Jays and Brewers. Both of those teams have hitter friendly ballparks and he managed to have a ERA in the 3′s or below in seasons on those teams. Cook would be a nice non roster guy to sign. He has had a history of injury problems and hasn’t pitched more than 130 innings since 2009. But who knows maybe he would thrive at the Safe.
The fact that Marcum’s lowest ERA was 3.39 ERA but in that season he only pitched 151.1 Innings. A career 3.76 ERA with a career 4.25 FIP and 4.13 xFIP doesn’t help his case. Also remember that half of the games he’ll pitch will be on the road and with the Rangers and Astros in our division with visits to Toronto, New York, Boston, Tampa, Chicago and Detroit, he’ll get mangled.
The only team I would worry about on the road in our division is the Rangers. In a small sample size of 3 starts he does have a rather high 7.30 ERA. Against the other division opponents in their ballparks is Angel Stadium is 2.77, the Coliseum is 1.98 and Minute Maid Park 1.42. The Jays are going to be a tough time for any pitcher with their lineup. In all honesty I think the Yankees and Red Sox will both have an off year. The White Sox cause problems for pretty much any Mariner pitcher in the last couple of years in Chicago. I think he will perform fine against those teams. His lifetime ERA in Chicago is 3.89 while it is 4.61 in Motown. He has been pitching in the National League the last couple of years. Before than he was pointing up solid numbers back when the AL East was probably the best division in baseball. Again I just feel that Marcum is one of best pitchers on left on the market. Now that Cook signed a minor league deal with the Phillies, who would you like to see the M’s sign