I’m cautiously optimistic about the Seattle Mariners this
year. That is, I think they will be a
bit better than last year, which means they may be good enough to get into the
playoffs for a change. The playoff
drought has lasted a while, and it’s well past time that my team made a
post-season appearance.
What makes it different this time around?
For starters, the team returns its best players from
2016. When the Mariners dished out a $240
million contract to Robinson Cano a few years ago, many wondered if this was
such a great move. In terms of his age
and likely drop-off in skills by the end of the ten-year deal, it didn’t seem
like a good investment at first. As
things have turned out, Cano has been a leader for the ball club, both on the
field and in the clubhouse. His strong
work ethic and easy-going style have helped make the Mariners into a team that
has fun as they go about their business, and he backs it all up with a great
glove and a stellar bat.
Nelson Cruz is back, and this year it looks like he will
mainly be the designated hitter. While
his glove is not bad in right field, he no longer has the range or skills
needed to keep him from being a liability at times. His bat will still be in the lineup on a
daily basis, though.
Kyle Seager continues to be as steady a third baseman as you
will find in the majors. He has Gold
Glove skills in the field, and he hits consistently well.
And while the team has been terrible at base running in
recent years, it looks like there is now some help coming. The new shortstop, Jean Segura, is coming off
of a career year with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He should slot into the order as the new leadoff hitter. Jarrod Dyson was acquired from the Kansas
City Royals, and he also adds speed, along with good outfield defense. Returning center fielder Leonys Martin is a
good defensive player who can also help charge up the offense at times.
General Manager Jerry DiPoto smartly brought in veteran
catcher Carlos Ruiz to help incumbent catcher Mike Zunino along. Zunino is still a “project”, but it appears a
stint in the minors last season has helped him develop into a better
major-league hitter. Zunino’s defensive
skills are already major league caliber.
If his bat should falter this season, Ruiz brings a hitter’s eye, as
well as defensive skills that remain quite adequate despite his age.
First base, corner outfield positions, and utility roles
should comprise most of the battles during Spring Trianing for the M’s this
year. Daniel Vogelbach was acquired from
the Cubs in trade for pitcher Mike Montgomery last season, and at age 22 has
yet to make his mark in the majors. The
organization has concerns about his ability to field his position, so DiPoto
has brought in veteran Danny Valencia to help man first base in case Vogelbach
is not ready. Valencia has been a decent
hitter throughout his career. It remains to see how he will fit in as a team
member, as this has apparently been difficult for him in the past.
Several young, athletic outfielders will be vying for
playing time alongside Martin and Dyson.
Seattle is high on Mitch Haniger, acquired via trade this winter in the
same deal that brought Jean Segura to the M’s.
The organization knows Haniger has good defensive skills, and they
believe he can hit for power and for average.
Early indications are that he will see a lot of time in right
field. Others who could play outfield
roles for the team this year are Ben Gamel and Guillermo Heredia. While neither was particularly impressive in
stints with the team in 2016, both are young and have good minor-league track
records.
Utilitiy player Shawn O’Malley was fun to watch with the Mariners
last year. He is a gutsy player who
epitomizes this year’s team motto, “Whatever it takes”. This spring he will have competition from
Taylor Motter and Mike Freeman for the jack-of-all-trades role.
In 2016, the Mariners had tough times here and there with
their pitching. Injuries played a major
role, as did inconsistency. Felix Hernandez,
usually the Mariners ace starter, had a down year in 2016. He underwent a strenuous conditioning routine
over the winter, and results have been positive so far. He will be joined in the rotation by two
holdovers from last year, lefty James Paxton and righthander Hisashi Iwakuma,
and two newcomers, veterans Yovani Gallardo and Drew Smyly. All five of these starters have experienced
success at the major league level, and the Mariners hope Safeco Field will
provide a pitcher-friendly environment for everyone. Paxton has appeared on the verge of breaking
out the past few seasons, but he has been derailed by nagging injuries. Iwakuma has been unspectacular most of the
time, but has been a fairly reliable pitcher.
If the guys in the rotation are all pitching well, look out.
The bullpen is a bit of a question too, although as a former
major league reliever, DiPoto seems to know how to assemble a workable group of
relievers. In 2016, righty “Electric”
Edwin Diaz rose from AA ball to become the Mariners’ closer. He was a raw rookie and he had his ups and
downs, but he was mostly reliable in his role.
He and fellow AA right-handed pitcher Dan Altavilla hit 100 miles per
hour on the radar gun on a regular basis. Altavilla impressed with the Mariners at the
end of last season. From among Steve Cishek,
Tony Zych, Ariel Miranda, Chris Heston, Evan Scribner, Nick Vincent and a
number of others, DiPoto and manager Scott Servais will assemble a bullpen that
can get the job done.
While the Mariners added speed, defense and pitching during
this winter’s Hot Stove League, they also added some organizational depth at
the AAA level. The team now has some
options in Tacoma should any of their players get injured or falter in the
majors. Look for youngsters such as
pitchers Rob Whalen and Max Povse, acquired from Atlanta, to help with pitching
if needed. If Gamel and Heredia are not
on the major league roster to begin the year, they will be playing regularly in
Tacoma, possibly alongside outfielder Boog Powell, catcher Tuffy Gosewitch, and
others who have major league experience.
Relievers who don’t make the Mariners pitching staff will likely log a
lot of innings in AAA, and Miranda and Heston have both been starting pitchers
in the majors. If the M’s need to call
someone up, there should now be plenty of options.
What does this all mean?
The team improved itself in terms of speed, defense, and
on-base percentage, and possibly in terms of starting pitching, all without
decimating its major league roster or minor league system. After
an 86-win season in 2016, look for the Mariners to win at least that many again
this year. I’m thinking more like 89 or
90 wins… and that ought to be enough to
get them into the playoffs, at least as a wild card team.
Whatever it takes!