Ariel Miranda is Back, Taylor Motter Sent to Tacoma

If you’re reading this on Lookout Landing, you’re probably keenly aware of the fact that the Mariners have yet to use a fifth starting pitcher this season thanks to the legitimately insane amount of off-days, scheduled and unscheduled. On one hand, that’s pretty neat since the Mariners are not neck-deep in MLB talent when it comes to starting pitchers. On the other hand, they’ve had a slightly bloated roster and now they have to make some tough roster decisions, especially with several more key position players coming off the disabled list soon.

Returning to the team today and making the start tonight against the Houston Astros is Cuban lefty Ariel Miranda. Miranda found himself in a steady starting role last season due to the catastrophic amount of injuries the team was dealing with. In 160 innings, he ran a K/9 of 7.71, won eight games while losing seven, and contributed 0.1 fWAR. His main problem was the home run, of which he gave up 37(!!!). Check out Connor’s very good treatise on how Miranda might go about fixing that nasty home run problem. Is it possible? Sure! Probable? Maybe, but expecting to be fixed completely tonight against the Astros is a tall ask, I would say.

Anyways, here’s the move!

Sending Taylor Motter down makes plenty of sense as the team was carrying two utility players in in Motter and Andrew Romine, who now can split time at first base with Daniel Vogelbach until Ryon Healy returns. So, yay! Everyone is happy (except the Motter clan, but hey, he’s still employed!) and no franchise icons have to be shunned just yet.