Signing Rex Brothers would be a smart next step for Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have led the pack with transactions so far this offseason, bringing in Leonys Martin, Nate Karns, Joaquin Benoit, Luis Sardinas, Boog Powell, Daniel Robertson and others. Benoit’s 2015 salary aside, new general manager Jerry DiPoto has already addressed many of his club’s needs on the cheap before the end of November.
But one area that still needs work is the bullpen. Benoit is a quality option at closer, and is supplemented by Charlie Furbush and Carson Smith. But options get less reliable beyond that, and adding one or two lightning-in-a-bottle candidates to the mix in the bullpen could be a cost-effective way to continue bolstering a roster that will have to compete with the Astros, Rangers and Angels in a talented American League West next year.
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One such player that fits the mold is Rockies reliever Rex Brothers, who was designated for assignment on Friday and indicated that he’ll opt to become a free agent rather than accept an assignment to the minors. The former closer may prefer a more defined late-inning role with another club, but it’s hardly a given that Brothers will be presented such opportunities after posting underwhelming numbers in 45 appearances with AAA Albuquerque last season.
That being said, he’s a perfect buy-low candidate for the Mariners, who offer a pitcher-friendly ballpark and can hopefully help Brothers work through control issues by turning him loose in low-pressure situations. The 27-year-old posted a 1.74 ERA across 72 appearances in 2013 and was successful in 17 big-league appearances in 2015, giving reason to believe there’s still something left in the former first-round pick. While FIP and other advanced metrics suggest Brothers has been fairly average on the mound, his career 10.3 K/9 rate suggests there’s still at least plenty of firepower remaining in his arm.
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Bullpen depth isn’t the most pressing issue for the Mariners as December approaches, but adding more talent to the relief corps allows the team to potentially improve while leaving room in the budget to add at other areas. Having a lockdown bullpen has become a defining characteristic of playoff teams in recent years. And with Benoit in the mix, it appears that a top-of-the-line (and expensive) closer won’t also be in the cards. That makes Brothers a smart alternative.