Blackburn, whom the Mariners acquired Wednesday from the Cubs, could be in the Seattle rotation as early as next season, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.
General Manager Jerry Dipoto said Blackburn projects as a No. 4 starter. "Three average-to-better pitches, and he throws strikes," Dipoto said. "He's having an all-star season in the Southern League, and we feel he projects as a potential 2017 ETA in the second half in the big leagues." Blackburn, the 56th overall pick in the 2012 draft, had a 3.17 ERA this season in 16 starts at Double-A Tennessee. He was assigned to Double-A Jackson.