Mariners' Yovani Gallardo: Eager to put 2016 season behind him

Gallardo, who battled shoulder problems last season and failed to make 30 starts for the first time since 2008, is fully healthy and excited about his new team heading into spring training, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

Analysis:

The veteran workhorse got matters started off on the wrong foot last season and never fully recovered. After a solid 13-11 season in Texas in 2015, Gallardo was in limbo last offseason because his free-agent status came saddled with a qualifying offer, meaning the club that signed him would surrender a first-round pick. By the time the Orioles finally came calling, spring training was already a week old, leaving Gallardo behind the rest of the pitchers in terms of preparation. Concerns about his shoulder that arose during his physical also caused Baltimore to reduce its original offer. The 30-year-old righty eventually had to go on the DL with biceps tendinitis after experiencing shoulder tightness before the fourth start of the season, finishing with a 6-8 record and career-high 5.42 ERA over 23 starts. His control, never stellar, deteriorated to a new low, as his 4.65 BB/9 was the worst of his career, while his 67.8 percent strand rate and 1.22 HR/9 also represented his poorest figures in those categories. However, Gallardo altered his offseason routine to focus more on strengthening his shoulder and reported feeling "really good" after throwing his initial bullpen session last Thursday, a performance that drew the praise of general manager Jerry DiPoto.