Former Seattle Mariners Pitcher Co-Signs Logan Gilbert as Opening Day Starter
In this story:
The Seattle Mariners pitching staff is the strength of the team and will continue to be for the near future.
The Mariners have three All-Star starters on the team (George Kirby, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert) and two more starters with the same potential (Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller).
Seattle has an embarrassment of riches on the pitching staff that can help the club pattern the rotation in any order it feels like. But there is a question about who the opening day starter will be against the Athletics on March 27.
Castillo was the Mariners opening day starter in 2023 and 2024. The three-time All-Star is more than capable of continuing that role in 2025. But a former Seattle pitcher (and newly-hired TV broadcaster) Ryan Rowland-Smith co-signed the rotation's ace, Gilbert, as the opening day starter.
Rowland-Smith appeared on the Bump & Stacy show on Seattle Sports 710 on Feb. 14 and explained why he believes Gilbert should be the opening day starter on March 27.
"It's got to be Logan. It has to be Logan Gilbert," Rowland-Smith said. " ... It's a tough one and it's important, I'm telling you right now. They gave (Erik Bedard) the opening day start over Felix Hernandez (in 2008). ... It was a big deal. That was Felix's team. Look what he did the year prior, et cetera. Logan, he deserves that opening day start. Yes, he has some tough competition. I get it, Luis Castillo and everything else. Logan has to get that start, that's my opinion."
Gilbert finished 2024 with a 3.23 ERA and struck out 220 batters in 208.2 innings pitched across 33 starts. He made his first All-Star game last year and finished sixth in American League Cy Young voting.
Logan Gilbert throwing CHEDDAR. 🧀
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 29, 2024
T100.3 mph pic.twitter.com/5PNG1bkccc
Castillo had a 3.64 ERA and fanned 175 batters in 175.1 innings pitched in 30 starts.
Mama, Luis Castillo just killed a man. pic.twitter.com/A3JFxCtO8D
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 12, 2024
Gilbert led the Mariners in innings pitched and strikeouts and had the perception as the No. 1 guy on the staff despite not being the first pitcher up in the rotation.
Castillo is arguably the most respected veteran on the roster and is the highest-paid pitcher on the team by far.
Either decision would be a good one for Seattle. But, as Rowland-Smith said in his comments, Gilbert's season might just be impossible to ignore. And that might lead to him taking the lead spot in the rotation.
Related Stories on Seattle Mariners
MARINERS MANAGER DAN WILSON DISCUSSES SHORTSTOP JP CRAWFORD'S MINDSET: Wilson talked about Crawford turning the page to 2025 after a disappointing 2024. CLICK HERE
MARINERS OUTFIELDER VICTOR ROBLES WAS AMONG ELITE COMPANY IN 2024: Only four hitters in baseball did better than Robles after the All-Star break last season. CLICK HERE
MARINERS LEFT-HANDED RELIEVER IMPRESSING SO FAR IN SPRING TRAINING: The former Kansas City Royals reliever could have a resurgent season in store after a disappointing 2024. CLICK HERE
Follow Seattle Mariners on SI on social media
Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on "X" @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the "Refuse to Lose" podcast by clicking HERE.
