PEORIA, Ariz. — For the first time since 2006, the Mariners enter a season without Felix Hernandez as part of the starting rotation.
But his presence had been more unpredictable than superstar the last four seasons.
While Hernandez tries to make the Braves’ rotation as a free agent on a minor league contract, the Mariners push forward with a projected rotation for the 2020 season that is part future and part reclamation project.
Four of the five starters have serious questions about either their reliability over the course of a season or their viability to pitch beyond five innings.