5 Ways the Mariners Can Make the Playoffs in 2018

4. Go Back in Time and Bring Back 2016 Jean Segura, Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager

I’m not sure if you guys remember this, but in 2016, Kyle Seager and Robinson Cano were F*****g awesome. So to was then Arizona Diamondback Jean Segura. If you need a little refresher, Seager posted a 6.9 bWAR, Cano a 7.3 bWAR, and Segura a 5.5 bWAR.

Combined, the trio was worth a total of 19.7 wins above replacement level. How did that compare to 2017? Well, Segura posted a 3.2 bWAR, Seager a 2.5 bWAR, and Cano a 3.4. Combined, a total of 9.1 wins above replacement value, a difference of over 10 wins.

Most expect Seager to bounce back to his usual, 4-5 win pace in 2018, but most projections have Cano and Segura being roughly the same as 2017. So even if you account for the positive regression for Seager, this would still be a 7-8 win swing for the Mariners in 2018, and the difference between mediocrity and an 86-88 win team.

While it is not likely to happen, it has happened in the past. Therefore, we cannot explicitly rule it out (but let’s be real). If it does happen in 2018, the Mariners will not only be a playoff contender, but a serious threat in the American League.