Trades to attempt to prop up the MLB pitching staff decimated the organization’s pitching depth this year, as we had to bid farewell to both big names (Gohara, Yarbrough, Littell) and less-recognized names that sting nonetheless (Pablo Lopez and Tyler Pike, I miss you). The upside of this swiss-cheese roster construction is that younger or less heralded players got opportunities, and we got to see players like Nick Neidert make his Double-A debut as a 20-year-old, or Nathan Bannister, drafted just last year, pitch well in spot starts for Triple-A Tacoma.
Starting pitchers:
Neidert is the Mariners’ best pitching prospect, and he took a significant step forward in his development this year.