By Blaidd Drwg
It wasn’t too long ago that Eric Wedge announced that Danny Hultzen, he of 0 minor league innings, was going to get a shot at the rotation, along with the other Mariners pitching prospects (or if you prefer, the Mariners TNSTAAPP – There’s no such thing as a pitching prospect). Well, with the exception of Ersamo Ramirez, who appears still has a shot of making the team out of spring training, Hultzen, Walker and Paxton all have been sent to the minor league camp. It makes sense, considering all that has happened since Wedge made the announcement that the prospects were going to compete in November:
- The M’s retained Hernandez, Pineda and Vargas, so there were really only 2 spots in the rotation open
- The M’s retained Beavan and Furbush, so there were already 2 competitors for those rotation slots.
- M’s trade Michael Pineda for Hector Noesi.
- The M’s sign Kevin Millwood and Hishahi Iwakuma.
I have a feeling that Noesi is considered a guaranteed slot in the rotation, so there are still only 2 slots open. I believe Iwakuma was effectively guaranteed a spot in the rotation so that leaves one open spot. Millwood is on a MiLB deal, so he is competing for the final spot in the rotation.
Based on that you have 4 prospects, 2 returning starters and a free agent competing for the last spot in the rotation. This means it shouldn’t be a real surprise that Hultzen, Walker and Paxton were all sent down after pitching just one MLB game this spring. I fully expect to see Ramirez sent down soon and ultimately Millwood named the 5th starter with Furbush and Beavan the first two candidates to replace anyone in the rotation. I really don’t see any of the young arms cracking the rotation until at least mid-2013, if not 2014 at the earliest.
Note – I wrote this before Wedge announced that the M’s rotation would be Felix, Vargas, Noesi, Beavan and Millwood. I would also be willing to bet that Millwood will be out of the rotation by June and replaced by Iwakuma. Either way, barring some major trade or catastrophe, I think you won’t see Hultzen in a Mariners uniform until 2013 at the earliest.
FlatbreadGarden 