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The Drought, Part I: The 10 Worst Mariners Since 2001

By Ty Gonzalez

SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 15: A general view of Safeco Field as Felix Hernandez
SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 15: A general view of Safeco Field as Felix Hernandez /
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It’s been an abysmal 17 years for Mariners fans. While the Mariners haven’t always been the worst team in their long playoff drought, they’ve had some of their worst players in franchise history.

As the Mariners begin to pull away with the second Wild Card berth in 2018, it may be a good time to reflect on the dark ages one last time. Never forget where you came from, right?

These are the 10 worst Seattle Mariners from 2002 to 2017. While there were some heroes on bad Mariners teams that kept us watching during this period, the players that really stick in our memory banks are the ones that irritated us the most.

These players are the pure embodiment of the embarrassment Mariners fans have endured for many years. Whether it strictly be their on-field performance or a mix with the circumstances that brought them to Seattle, they were an absolute disaster.

#10: 1B Casey Kotchman

SEATTLE – April 30: First baseman Casey Kotchman #13 of the Seattle Mariners catches a fly ball against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field on April 30, 2010, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE – April 30: First baseman Casey Kotchman #13 of the Seattle Mariners catches a fly ball against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field on April 30, 2010, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

A personal favorite of one Ryan Divish, Kotchman was acquired on January 7, 2010, from the Boston Red Sox for Bill Hall. Since 2007, the highest WAR Kotchman posted was 0.9 with a wRC+ high of 95.

But Kotchman had a good career when facing the Mariners, mostly during his time with the Angels. In 195 career plate appearances against the M’s, Kotchman slashed .320/.368/.461, good enough for a 124 wRC+.

Kotchman was one of the many first basemen/designated hitter types Jack Zduriencik became enamored with during his tenure with the Mariners. He wasn’t solely brought in because the Mariners thought he would swing a hot stick, however. Many forget that Kotchman was once regarded as one of the better defensive first basemen in the MLB.

The defense fell apart in Seattle, making matters worse. After 125 games in the navy and teal, Kotchman would exit Seattle with awful defensive and offensive ratings, -9.3 and -23.2 respectively, per FanGraphs.

In pure Mariners fashion, Kotchman went on to be a 2.3 WAR player for the Rays in 2011. The success was short-lived, however, when Kotchman’s numbers went down the drain once again in Cleveland.

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