I would not have minded if my Mariners had signed Kyle Kendrick, a Seattle-area product, to a minor league contract to provide rotation depth.
Behind the current projected starting five, the Mariners have 28-year-old lefthander Ariel Miranda, who posted an ERA of 3.44 in 10 starts last year; nearly 29-year-old righthander Chris Heston, who two years ago posted an ERA of 3.95 in 31 starts, including a no-hitter; and nearly 23-year-old righthander Rob Whalen, who last year was roughed up in five MLB starts after five solid years in the minors.