30 Teams in 30 Days: Seattle Mariners Preview

The 30/30 Club

Club 5: Seattle Mariners

Yesterday the 30/30 Club series focused on the Texas Rangers.  Today, our focus shifts to the team in the American League West whom the Rangers were tied with, the Seattle Mariners.  Jerry DiPoto and company always seem to be active every offseason, and this year was no exception.

Past reports:

2017 Record: 78-84, tied for third in American League West

Acquisitions: 1B Ryon Healy (trade – OAK), CF Dee Gordon (trade – MIA), RP Mike Morin (waivers), RP Juan Nicasio (free agent)

Departures: 1B Yonder Alonso (free agent), 1B Danny Valencia (free agent), SP Yovani Gallardo (free agent), CF Jarrod Dyson (free agent), C Carlos Ruiz (free agent), SP Drew Smyly

Projected Lineup:

CF Dee Gordon

SS Jean Segura

2B Robinson Cano

DH Nelson Cruz

3B Kyle Seager

1B Ryon Healy

RF Mitch Haniger

C Mike Zunino

LF Ben Gamel

Projected Rotation:

SP Felix Hernandez

SP James Paxton

SP Mike Leake

SP Erasmo Ramirez

SP Marco Gonzalez

Position Battles:

Seattle’s lineup and rotation seem to be set in stone, with Ariel Miranda possibly fighting for a spot at the back end of the rotation.  The Mariners are deep in their bullpen, so they will probably keep a veteran arm or two in AAA to start the season to deal with injuries and performance issues.  It’s probably a good thing for the Mariners, because they do not have anyone in the pipeline coming up from the minors that appears to be ready to go.

Outlook:

Seattle always seems to be the team that wins the offseason every year and everyone has high hopes to start the season.  It’s like being set up on a blind date, hoping you get a stunning model for a date and coming home disappointed because you ended up with something not even close to resembling that.  This season appears to be no exception, as they were the beneficiaries of Miami’s fire sale, adding Dee Gordon to the top of their lineup, and added a young slugger in Ryon Healy who seemingly didn’t have a position in Oakland but will be the starting first baseman in Seattle.  The rotation hinges on the health of lefty James Paxton and if Felix Hernandez can re-discover what made him so great prior to 2016.  Otherwise, there is a lot that is left to be desired in that rotation.  Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano are going to hit a lot of home runs, and they have speed to burn at the top of the lineup with Gordon and Segura.  If things break right, the Mariners could contend for the second Wild Card spot.  Given their very long track record, it looks like the Mariners will continue their MLB-long streak of non-playoff appearances at 18 years.