Seattle Mariners Close To Bringing Back Seth Smith

The Mariners have a handful of decisions to make this off-season. With so many contracts expiring, and options to be picked up or left behind, it is unclear what Mariners team we’ll see in 2017. But, it seems they have zeroed in on the first target, Seth Smith. Rumors have it that, the Mariners are “leaning toward” exercising the team option of Smith.

Seth Smith may be a thirty-four year veteran in this league but he’s playing some of the best baseball of his career. The Mariners aren’t just looking for a player that can produce, but a player that can play smart.

Aside from his power numbers, which are some of the highest that Smith has ever had, he also managed to get on base in very effective ways. Smith was hit by a pitch eight times this year. That’s three more times than he was hit by a pitch back in 2012. While those pitches were way inside on him, Smith was also not shy to take a few for the team.

What also might account for this higher number of hit by pitches is his patience. For players who suited up for at least one hundred and thirty games, Smith saw the third most pitches in baseball with 4.24 per plate appearance. More pitches seen equals more chances to witness a poor throw. To boot, Smith drew the third most walks he’s ever totaled in one season.

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But, his benefits aren’t limited to his accurate watchful eye. He also had personally high season numbers for runs scored with sixty-two, home runs hit, smashing sixteen and even set a new mark for RBI with sixty-three.

For seven million dollars, this may seem like a steep price to pay for a man who only batted .249 and put up the numbers I just mentioned (whether they were personally high numbers or not), but is it smart?

Smith will be entering his tenth full baseball season in April. But, his role as a back-up helped the M’s reach such great heights this year, so the Mariners are hoping this will continue. If Smith’s high level of play continues in his mid-thirties, the exercising of the team option could work out well for the club and Smith.

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If the rumors are true, the organization believes that re-signing Smith as a back-up could help the Mariners end their now fifteen year playoff drought in 2017.