Felix Hernandez: A Seattle Sports Icon

I think I ought to take the time and recognize the single most talented athlete in Seattle right now: Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez. He is one of the best pitchers in baseball and is still only 25. He is consistent, hard-throwing, and downright filthy at times with his pitches. No one in Seattle dominates like Felix Hernandez. However, there have been a few Mariners fans who think the Mariners should trade Felix, just because of our history of losing. These people have a pessimistic attitude and think Felix is going to demand a trade some point soon. I’m here to say that Felix should under no circumstances be traded.

Trading Felix Hernandez would be like if the Seahawks traded Steve Largent or if the Mariners traded Ken Griffey Jr. while they were in their primes. Granted, the latter of the two happened, but Griffey was pretty much past his peak level of play and didn’t want to play in Seattle anymore. However, Felix does. He’s made a home here. He has friends and family here. He has a good relationship with his teammates and clubhouse staff. He’s fun, lighthearted, and a good guy to have in your clubhouse. It’s rare nowadays to find someone with as much talent as Felix to go along with his loyalty to the city of Seattle and the Mariners organization.

Another argument people make for trading Felix is that the Mariners have a surplus in starting pitching. The Mariners have Felix, plus already at the major league level Michael Pineda, Blake Beavan, and Jason Vargas. They also have some very promising young arms in the minors in James Paxton, Taijuan Walker, and 2^nd overall pick Danny Hultzen. I am a firm believer in that the team with the best top 3 pitchers usually wins the World Series. Last year, the San Francisco Giants prevailed over the Texas Rangers because of their starting three of Lincecum, Cain, and Sanchez. That is exactly the kind of rotation General Manager Jack Zduriencik wants: a good, young core group of pitchers. Felix needs to be here to lead them and provide experience. Also, a lot pitching prospects don’t pan out, and it’s good to have a few more waiting in the wings. The Mariners could also trade a young pitcher for a bat, a pitcher they don’t necessarily believe will be a good fit anymore.

Felix is the face of the Mariners franchise. It used to be Ichiro, but since Ichiro has lost his mojo, he has sort of stepped out of the spotlight and Felix is now the best player on the Mariners. Imagine what he’ll be known as in five or ten years. If he stays here, he will become the best pitcher in Mariners history, surpassing Randy Johnson and Jamie Moyer. And by all accounts, he will stay here, because Zduriencik has stated he has no intentions of trading Felix (although he has gotten the offers), and Felix wants to be here. Very few guys with Felix’s talent would be willing to stick with the Mariners through all the losing, but Felix is, because he knows it’s going to get better, and it will.

It’s funny how it all comes down to the trade of Mark Langston for Randy Johnson as to how we got Felix Hernandez. We made the trade for the Big Unit, who was later traded for Freddy Garcia and a few other players. Felix signed with us because Freddy Garcia was his idol growing up and he wanted to play on the same team as Freddy. That’s why Felix wears #34, the same number Garcia wore while he was here. The Mark Langston-Randy Johnson trade will probably be forever known as the best trade in Mariners history, because it landed the Mariners two of the greatest pitchers, not only in their history, but to have ever played the game. Felix is a one-of-a-kind player. Keep him happy. Keep him here. We will win.