#4
The Seattle Mariners broke their 21 year postseason drought in 2022. Can 2023 bring about another step towards winning a championship?
#8 - 3rd in AL West, WILD CARD, lose in ALDS
MIH - Jesse Winker
MIP - Logan Gilbert
PTW - Julio Rodriguez
2022 Results
#8 - 90-72, 2nd in AL West, WILD CARD, lost in ALDS
Highest WAR (Position) - Julio Rodriguez
Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Logan Gilbert
The drought is over! The Mariners made the playoffs in 2022 for the first time since their 116 win season in 2001. They may not have done it the way it was expected though. They rode the back of their young superstar Julio Rodriguez, who won Rookie of the Year and finished 7th in MVP voting. Before the 2022 season started, everyone was talking about the impact Jesse Winker would have on the offense, but it was the forgotten part of that trade, Eugenio Suarez, that became a leader of the team. A Trade Deadline deal, again with the Reds, that brought in starter Luis Castillo revamped the starting rotation and made them a dangerous team in the postseason. Despite being swept in the ALDS, they were really the only team that gave the Astros any fits in the playoffs.
Additions / Subtractions
Even though Jerry DiPoto has garnered the reputation of being extremely active in roster tweaks, this offseason was comparatively somewhat quiet. Two main trades defined the offseason for the Mariners. They brought in outfielder Teoscar Hernandez from the Blue Jays for reliver Erik Swanson to replace the departing Mitch Haniger. They also ended the Jesse Winker experiment by trading him and Abraham Toro to the Brewers for second baseman Kolten Wong to replace the departing Adam Frazier. One free agent signing was bringing in veteran outfielder A.J. Pollock.
Most Important Hitter
Ty France
Although Julio was the headline grabber last season, in a lot of ways Ty France was the one that helped keep this lineup moving for the Mariners. He is one of those players that just knows how to hit. This earned him his first All Star appearance in 2022. However, an elbow injury mid-season threw off his swing and timing the rest of the season, and France really struggled to have any production down the stretch. If the Mariners are going to have a strong lineup, they need Ty France to hit the way he did before his injury. If he is back to that level, this lineup will score runs.
Most Important Pitcher
Robbie Ray
The Mariners made a big free agency splash before the 2022 season by signing the reigning AL Cy Young winner, Robbie Ray, away from the Blue Jays. In his first year in Seattle, Ray did not live up to the hype. Still able to strike out a lot of batters, Ray's ERA+ fell from 157 in 2021 to league average 100 in 2022. His standard ERA rose from 2.84 in 2021 to 3.71 in 2022. His inconsistency forced the Mariners to trade for another ace mid-season, and he ended the season relegated to the bullpen in the ALDS and gave up a game-winning, back-breaking home run to Yordan Alvarez in Game 1. It looks like he has made some changes in the offseason and is ready to have a better season. The Mariners need him to be better to provide that right/left 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.
Prospect to Watch
Bryce Miller
The Mariners quickly went from one of the best farm systems in baseball to one of the worst thanks to guys like Julio Rodriguez, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Jarred Kelenic graduating from the list, then trading away a bunch of their depth in a variety of trades. Only two players remain for the Mariners in the Top 100, with Bryce Miller (#98 on Top 100) being ready to impact the big league roster this season. Miller is a 24 year old right-handed starter that may have had a chance to be a part of the rotation on Opening Day if not for the tremendous pitching depth in Seattle. He will get his chance at some point this season though, and when he does, he might be the next great young arm in Seattle's arsenal.
2023 Prediction
2nd in AL West, WILD CARD, lose in ALCS
I don't know if the Mariners are ready to dethrone the Astros at the top of the division, but they showed last season that they are ready to compete with anyone in the postseason. They are built to compete in the playoffs and will be a dangerous team in October. My slightly skeptical fandom might be the only thing keeping me from putting them in the World Series, but they are definitely good enough to get there.
Fearless Prediction
Julio Rodriguez finishes in the top 3 in the MVP voting.
This might not feel like that fearless of a prediction. A fearless prediction would be picking Julio to win the MVP. However, when you remember that the American League also includes so many people you have to vote for out of principle, like the unicorn Shohei Ohtani, the best player in baseball Mike Trout, and the reigning MVP Aaron Judge, cracking the top 3 in MVP voting would be quite a feat. Give Julio 5 years, and he will be the best player in baseball.
