Should the Seattle Mariners Make a Play for Tom Glavine?

It's no secret that the Seattle Mariners' current woes cannot be attributed to its pitching staff.

The Seattle Mariners pitching staff ranks second in the Major Leagues with a respectable 3.77 ERA. This is mostly due to the success of rotation headliners Felix Hernandez (3.22 ERA), Erik Bedard (2.37 ERA), and Jarrod Washburn (3.07 ERA).

Despite this success, there is still room for improvement in the Mariners rotation.

Hernandez, Bedard, and Washburn have bolstered the Mariners pitching staff, but the remaining two turns in the rotation have been anything but consistent.

Here are the pitchers who have started games in the Mariners' final two rotation spots along with their 2009 season statistics:

Note: These statistics are compiled from all games started by the pitcher listed. Any statistics accrued in relief are not included.

• Carlos Silva -1-3, 6 GS, 28.2 IP, 8.48 ERA
• Ryan Rowland-Smith - Injured in first start
• Chris Jakubauskas - 2-5, 8 GS, 40.2 IP, 6.64 ERA
• Jason Vargas -1-0, 5 GS, 29 IP, 2.17 ERA
• Garrett Olson -0-1, 3 GS, 17.1 IP, 5.19 ERA

The two most attractive names on this list are Ryan Rowland-Smith and Jason Vargas.

Rowland-Smith was injured in his first start this year and is due to return this coming week.

Reports out of Seattle have indicated that his return might be delayed due to sub-par performance in his rehab starts, but when Rowland-Smith returns he will almost certainly have a spot in the rotation.

Jason Vargas has been stellar so far in 2009, but it is yet to be seen whether he can keep up this pace.

Alex Remington, of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports gives a grim outlook for Vargas' future, saying that there is, "no chance in the world" that he can maintain this pace.

Either way, it is nice to see anyone not named Carlos Silva earning a spot in the rotation.

This brings us to the point of this article.

With the Mariners starting pitching as it stands, should they pursue free agent pitcher Tom Glavine?

Glavine is a 300-game winner with a history of efficient pitching. He is 43 years of age, but in his last full season (at age 41) he started 34 games with a 13-8 record and a 4.45 ERA.

I know what you're thinking. A 4.45 ERA isn't even that good. While a 4.45 ERA might not be good when compared to staff aces, it is certainly respectable when compared to the Seattle Mariners current options to round out their rotation.

The Seattle Mariners pitching staff has the talent to succeed, but if the Mariners have any intention of making a playoff push in 2009 (this is seeming less likely as the days go by), signing Tom Glavine to a one-year contract would be a smart move.

Glavine would add the one thing that the back end of the Mariners rotation lacks the most: consistency.

Sound off with what you think in the comment section.

sk.