The 2018 Sodo Mojo Off-Season Plan

Sign Jarrod Dyson to a 1 year, $6.5 million deal with a mutual option worth $7.5 million in 2018 (1.25 million buyout).

The question of who would play center field for the 2018 season was one of the most divisive issues facing our panelist. We kicked around a few of the big name free agents like Lorenzo Cain and Carlos Gomez.

One of the panelist (me) kicked around the idea of trading Edwin Diaz to St. Louis for Tommy Pham, or selling the farm for Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier. However; we determined that the Mariners would be best served retaining Jarrod Dyson.

The late season groin injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Mariners, and Dyson was likely going to be priced out-of-town. Dyson used his speed and defensive prowess to produce at 2 win season in just 111 games.

The experiment of Dyson playing every day should be considered over. The slight Dyson struggled mightily against left-handed pitching, slashing a pitiful .145/.230/.145 against them. However; against right-handed pitching, Dyson held his own. He slashed a solid .271/.342/.388 with a league average 100 wRC+.

This solid platoon split coupled with Guillermo Heredia‘s ability to hit lefties makes a Dyson/Heredia split in center make too much sense. Dyson’s great defense and base-running, coupled with a league average bat makes him a key cog in a playoff caliber team’s roster.