Mariners need to try again with Jose A. Ferrer after trade hype landed with a thud

Zachary Rymer argues that the Seattle Mariners must adjust reliever Jose A. Ferrer's pitch mix after an underwhelming 2026 campaign. Despite being acquired from the Washington Nationals for top prospect Harry Ford, Ferrer finished the season with a disappointing 94 ERA+ across a co-team-leading 73 appearances. Rymer contends that Ferrer relied too heavily on his sinker, which yielded a .297 batting average against and six home runs.

To improve in 2027, the writer suggests Ferrer significantly increase his changeup usage, noting it generated a 41.6% whiff rate and held hitters to a .146 average in 2026. Meanwhile, Rymer notes that Washington's return in Ford also experienced a difficult 2026 season across both the majors and minors.