SodoMojo’s Top-10 Most-Viewed Mariners Stories of 2014

Sep 17, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher

(17) is congratulated by Athletics left fielder

(15) after Soto scored on a single by Athletics right fielder

(23), not in picture, during the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

5: The Seattle Mariners Are Checking In on Jonny Gomes:

On December 4, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick mentioned on twitter that the Mariners, among other teams, were checking in on free agent outfielder Jonny Gomes. We at Sodo Mojo discussed the possibility of Gomes playing in Seattle.

I was largely skeptical of a Gomes signing, unless it was really on the cheap. Also, at the time of the story, the Mariners were still in pursuit of Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Melky Cabrera and the like, and a Jonny Gomes signing felt like a sad consolation prize.

Even without any major trades for outfielders, the M’s got Justin Ruggiano via the trade, a left-handed hitter who should produce more than Gomes would have at Safeco Field. Though Gomes has a .837 OPS against left-handed pitching over the last three seasons, the Mariners elected to go the trade route for a right-handed platoon outfielder.

Clocking in at number 4 in our top-10 Mariners stories of 2014 is a post about Mid-may trades the Mariners should have strongly considered: