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The Mariners bullpen needs help.
Theres no other way to say it.
And it doesnt take ripping apart the unit or acting like there arent enough trustworthy arms to make it through the postseason.
The M's manager Dan Wilson also could use an easier way to navigate it.
Andres Munoz is still the name that matters most at the back end.
When Matt Brash returns, he can give them the swing-and-miss they need.
Gabe Speier, Eduard Bazardo and Jose A.
Ferrer have all been part of the group Seattle can reasonably trust in leverage spots.
The issue is not whether the Mariners have enough bullpen talent.
Its how often theyre needed in close games, and how much more they will be needed down the stretch.
So when chatter came up about the proposed Superpen, it may have sounded a little ridiculous at first, but the idea is simple enough.
Instead of trading for another middle reliever or forcing a starter into an awkward bullpen role, Seattle would instead promote top Double-A arms Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan and use them as multi-inning weapons down the stretch.
Not traditional one-inning relievers.
Actual bridge pieces who can cover two or three innings.
Out of the many options, that would be a huge move.
One that could either help turn the Ms into a real contender, or could fall extremely flat.
Seattles Superpen Plan Would Be About Protection, Not Panic Munoz, Brash, Speier, Bazardo and Ferrer should not have to rescue every tight game from the fifth inning on.
Thats how teams burn through their best relief options before the games get truly unforgiving.
The Mariners need a way to get from the rotation to the late innings without constantly asking the same handful of arms to walk across a tightrope.
Thats where Anderson and Sloan come in.
They are both starters by trade, and thats why the idea could work.
Theyre used to carrying more than three outs.
Theyre also currently working four-to-five inning games.
Its the perfect way to provide length without turning the game into a bullpen committee.
And both guys are perfectly stretched for the role.
A two-inning burst from Anderson or Sloan in the sixth and seventh could completely change how Dan Wilson manages the final third of a game.
Suddenly, you dont have to run the risk of running Brash in back-to-back games.
You can even give the committee the night off and use Anderson or Sloan as a piggyback, their new favorite strategy this season.
The Mariners have already shown theyre willing to get weird with pitching usage.
The piggyback rotation wasnt exactly a normal plan, but it made sense for a team trying to protect arms, manage workload and get through awkward schedule pockets without beating up the bullpen.
The Superpen would be the next logical step.
And it would be considered a creative one.
It has the chance to be pretty efficient.
And the front office loves efficiency.
Tremayne Person is the Publisher for Mariners On SI and the Site Expert at Friars on Base, with additional bylines across FanSideds MLB division.
He founded the Keep It Electric podcast in 2023 and covers baseball with a blend of analysis, context, and a little well-timed side-eye just to keep things honest.
Tremayne grew up a Mariners fan in Richmond, Va., and that passion ultimately led him to move to Seattle to cover the team closely and become a regular at home games.
Through his writing, he connects with fans who want a deeper, more personal understanding of the game.
When hes not at T-Mobile Park, hes with his dog, gaming, or finding the next storyline worth digging into.
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