5 Greatest Seattle Mariners Pitchers of All Time

Gilbert (already) landing in our top five will generate debate, but there really wasn’t much competition, especially considering that the Mariners made the playoffs twice in his first five seasons.

Freddy García won 76 games over five-plus years in Seattle, but with a 3.89 ERA and a penchant for giving up home runs. 

Gilbert has been a reliable top-of-the-rotation arm since the start of 2022, averaging roughly a 3.40 ERA through mid-2026. Although he, too, is plagued by the long ball, we’d much rather have someone who gives up two runs over five innings than a pitcher who allows four over six frames. 

4. Mark Langston (1984-1989)

Langston was fine, and his 4.01 ERA in Seattle won’t immediately catch your eye. But he recorded at least 200 strikeouts — and 100 walks — in his first five years.

He ranks third in complete games (41), tied third in shutouts (9), fourth in WAR (19.2), fourth in strikeouts (1,074), and fifth in wins (74) among Mariners pitchers in history.

Had the MLB package existed in the 1980s, Langston would have been worth watching if only for his inconsistent control.

MORE: 5 Greatest Seattle Mariners Hitters of All Time

3. Jamie Moyer (1996-2006)

Moyer might seem like an odd choice given his 3.97 ERA over 10-plus seasons in Seattle, but he was a steady starter in his prime. 

From 1997-2003, Moyer averaged 16 wins, a 3.75 ERA, 202 innings, and 4.2 bWAR. Any contender, especially those competing with the Yankees’ most recent dynasty, would take that from a starter in his mid-to-late 30s. 

At least Moyer got his World Series opportunity with the Phillies in 2008. 

2. Randy Johnson (1989-1998)

When Johnson first arrived in Seattle, he was a fine middle-of-the-rotation starter with a walk problem. He led the league in walks allowed for three straight seasons, and questions quickly mounted about just how effective Johnson could truly be. 

Once Johnson figured out his control, the rest of the league shuddered. Just ask John Kruk. 

From 1993 to 1997, the Baseball Hall of Famer went 75-20 with a 2.86 ERA and a 1,182-338 K-BB ratio. The 1995 AL Cy Young winner pitched 12 shutouts and provided the Mariners with 29.9 bWAR during that stretch.

That’ll do. 

1. Félix Hernández (2005-2019)

Hernández is a cautionary tale for overworking young pitchers. A heralded prospect out of Venezuela, Hernández debuted at 19 years old and didn’t leave the Mariners’ rotation until departing following the 2019 season. 

For an 11-year stretch beginning in his age-20 season, Hernández averaged a 3.18 ERA and 212 innings. As the Mariners transitioned out of the Ichiro era, Hernández quickly became the face of a struggling franchise that never reached the postseason in his time there. 

But don’t hold that against Hernández. He was easily one of baseball’s most fearsome pitchers in his prime, as the Tampa Bay Rays learned during his 2012 perfect game.

The question is whether Baseball Hall of Fame voters will value his peak over his career ending at 33. Hernández appeared on 46.1% of ballots in 2025, his second year on the ballot.