Needing to add to their pen after trading Carson Smith, Tom Wilhelmsen and every other reliever they’ve developed in recent years, the Mariners acquired right-hander Evan Scribner from the A’s in exchange for right-handed prospect Trey Cochran-Gill.
It’s a minor deal, for sure, but it should be noted that Scribner is coming off the most remarkable season ever for a reliever with a 4.35 ERA.
Best K:BB ratios ever, min. 50 IP
— Matthew Pouliot (@matthewpouliot) November 16, 2015
18.33 Dennis Eckersley 1989
18.25 Dennis Eckersley 1990
16.00 Evan Scribner 2015
12.83 Mariano Rivera 2008
Yes, Scribner had a 64/4 K/BB ratio in his 60 innings. Only Eck had ever done better. No one else has even come in over 13:1.
So, how did he end up with a 4.35 ERA? He gave up a whopping 14 homers. He’s the only pitcher in history to end a season with at least three times as many homers allowed as walks issued. After Scribner’s 3.5:1. the next highest ratio of homers to walks was Carlos Silva’s 25 HR/9 BB season in 188 1/3 innings in 2005.
Cochran-Gill, 22, is a decent relief prospect in the Dan Otero mold. He could help the A’s in 2017.
