Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma felt discomfort in his surgically repaired shoulder during a sim game on Sunday and will be temporarily shut down from throwing, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports on Twitter. The Mariners are hopeful it’s merely tendinitis, but regardless, it’ll delay Iwakuma’s attempt to return to the majors.
The 37-year-old Iwakuma’s latest problem is particularly alarming after shoulder troubles helped limit him to a career-low 31 innings of 4.35 ERA/6.42 FIP pitching in 2017. He ended up undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in late September, just over a month before the Mariners declined his $10MM option for 2018. Iwakuma quickly returned to the Mariners on a minor league deal with the hope that he could work his way back to the majors by May. That may now be in serious jeopardy in light of Sunday’s developments.
Although Iwakuma scuffled through last season, his Mariners tenure has been a resounding success since he emigrated from Japan prior to the 2012 campaign. Iwakuma has recorded a 3.42 ERA/3.87 FIP in 883 2/3 innings, and the Mariners would certainly welcome that type of production from him this season if he makes it back to the mound.
Seattle, a prospective playoff contender, has gotten off to a quality 15-11 start without Iwakuma, though its rotation hasn’t been great in the aggregate. Entering Sunday, Mariners starters rank last in the majors in ERA (5.73) and fourth from the bottom in fWAR. The M’s top three starters – James Paxton, Felix Hernandez and Mike Leake – each figure to perform better as the year progresses, but the team’s rotation could still feature multiple question marks even if that happens.
Tough break for the M’s.
He wasn’t really expected to contribute
Overwork his arm, that shoulder has already made its toll
M’s should’ve addressed the rotation in the offseason. That will end up costing them down the stretch.
I think DiPoto considered the acquisition of Leake last year as having addressed the rotation issues. This team literally needs 10+ Major League level SPs (and Wade Miley/Ubaldo Jimenez types don’t count) to get through a season with any chance of success. It’s a pipe dream to think Iwakuma can contribute anything meaningful to this season is a pipe dream.
Leake and Gonzalez were both acquired mid year. Dip was hopping Leake can step in and eat innings, Gonzalez takes a step forward (which he looks ok so far), Felix cant be moved, Paxton is probably the Ace and the 5th spot is a Tacoma/bullpen rotating door that can be addressed if the team is in the hunt come trade season. Miranda was probably the Ms best pitcher last year and he is in Tacoma. There is a little depth there…
Miranda was maybe the best up until the first week of June. I believe he ended up either leading or second in HRs given up. The 2nd half was not kind to Ariel.
I completely agree with your point. I understand the organization added Leake and Marco Gonzales at the end of last season but when you break an mlb record for the amount of pitchers used in one season surely you go out and acquire as much SP (depth) as you can. Everyone could see 2/3 (BP, lineup) of our team was as good as any in the league yet in an off-season where solid SP such as Cobb and Lynn were still available in January we decide to purchase a 44 yr old slap hitting OF. Hypocrisy