MLB Seattle Mariners

Chris Young Should Return To Seattle Mariners In 2015

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By @JordanWevers

Steven Bisig - USA Today Sports

Steven Bisig – USA Today Sports

When the Seattle Mariners made a speculative investment on veteran starting pitcher Chris Young for the 2014 season, the returns they got on him were substantial enough that the organization should consider bringing him back for the 2015 season.

On Monday, the Sporting News named Young its 2014 AL Comeback Player of the Year. For a man who does not warmly welcome individual blessings bestowed upon him, this award is more of a testament to his character than it is his ability, though the latter should not be overlooked, either.

Quickly approaching 35 years of age as Spring Training was in progress, Young found little interest for his services. His one-year deal, signed on Mar. 27 with Seattle, was incentive-laden. The $1.5 million base contract had the potential to reach $4.75 million based on his performance.

For some players well into their 30s and having been sliced up numerous times on the operating table, not a lot of MLB pitchers would embark on the road Young did to find relevance again. After his 2007 All-Star campaign with the San Diego Padres when he logged 30 starts, Young would go on to play over 140 innings in the minors from 2008-13 amidst three separate surgical procedures.

Young is one of a few veteran reclamation projects the Mariners took on in 2014. Relief pitcher Joe Beimel is another who paid dividends for Seattle, whereas someone like Corey Hart at designated hitter did not meet expectations.

Young, however, exceeded expectations. A consummate professional, his postgame interviews after an outing were always about the team and being able to contribute to the ultimate goal — a win. Young also provided a veteran presence and mentorship to youthful pitchers on the Mariners’ staff like James Paxton, Taijuan Walker and Roenis Elias. He shined for the M’s at Safeco Field as well, posting an 8-4 record with a 2.40 ERA in 14 starts.

Though Young struggled at times on the road, he still provided a more reliable source of innings from the mound than Elias or Erasmo Ramirez did on occasion. Perhaps it would be in the organization’s best interest to reward Young with another contract, where his veteran savvy would make for an excellent option to bookend the M’s rotation in 2015. That way, players like Ramirez and Elias could spend more time developing their game, or could be used in a package deal to trade for a much-needed right-handed bat for Seattle’s lineup.

At 6-foot-10, the imposing figure never has been a power pitcher in the big leagues. Young’s fastball averaged 90.3 MPH in his 2007 season, a couple years before his throwing elbow was set to go under the knife. Young’s game is built around finesse, deception and command. But also, a genuine desire to place the team before himself. Given his pitching style, Young can be an effective pitcher for some time to come. His style is often compared with that of Greg Maddux, who experienced fewer physical setbacks in his career than Young has, but nonetheless still pitched with moderate success well into his 40s.

Young finished in the top 50 amongst AL starting pitches for batters faced. His ability to pitch late into games may be his biggest asset on paper, but what he brings to the clubhouse mentality of the team is something that cannot be measured so easily.

Jordan Wevers is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanWevers, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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