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We could say, we s'pose, that Jason Vargas is the Rodney Dangerfield of the '010's Mariners.  But none of you kiddies would know who Rodney Dangerfield was.

"My girlfriend called me the other day, said, 'Come on over.  Nobody's home.'  I went over.  Nobody was home."

Homer Simpson, mebbe?  Dunno.  Anyway, San-Man sez:

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I think the odds of Vargas missing the rotation in April are effectively zero (barring injury).  If I had to guess right now, I'd say there are two open slots that Beaven, Furbush and Hultzen are competing for. 

Zero or less.  Fo sho Jason Vargas is in the rotation.  Here or someplace.  If he's traded, they always talk about cutdown time in late March, after your trade partners have had time to realize that their own rookies ain't exactly Michael Pineda...

Vargas has supplied $21.0 million worth of performance the last two seasons.  His peripherals are excellent, 5.9 / 2.6 / 1.0.  

And in September, you might remember his going the Bedard hip turn.  Gained 1-2 mph, gained deception, and from Sept. 1 to the wire, he was 2.84 with a 27/9 control ratio.

Guys have been saying, when Vargas is hot, that he's this decade's Jimmy Key or Jamie Moyer.  (When he's cold, we talk non-tender!)

Well, Ted Lilly or Mark Buehrle, I might buy.  Vargas is an established quality starter in the majors, and at $5M per season he's pitching for 50c on the dollar.  He's in there.  

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Tells you where our pitching is, that people say anything differ'nt.  Hey, amigos.  There is no such thing as a 2.5 WAR, $10M pitcher who is kicked to the curb because he costs $5M.  

That other $5M in free performance, you don't got it to spare.  Even if you got it to spare, you don't have it to spare, know what I mean?

Jason Vargas is very coooool and, at the moment, he's sitting on a possible plateau leap.  He's one of the five.  Hopefully Kansas City's.