Seattle Mariners Off-Season Preview: Center Field

Perhaps the biggest, non-pitching, need for the Mariners might be in centerfield. Today, we look for the best free agent options to patrol center field at Safeco Field.

Remember when the Mariners said they were going to build a dominant defensive outfield? In year 2 they went out and started an outfield with Jarrod Dyson, Leonys Martin, and Mitch Haniger. It was a great plan and made a ton of sense on the surface. So what the heck happened?

How did we go from building an elite defensive outfield to forcing Dee Gordon into centerfield? How does that make sense? The Mariners have 1 really good defender in the outfield right now. Mitch Haniger is a plus in RF, but the other two spots can only be described as mediocre at best.

It is time for Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto to either stick to his guns or stops claiming it is your goal. Put up or shut up.

Unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of these players available in free agency. Guys like Jackie Bradley Jr., Kevin Kiermaier, and Kevin Pillar could be available in trade, but we will discuss those options later.

In free agency, the biggest name available is A.J. Pollock. Pollock will enter the 2019 season as a 31-year-old. He is an above-average hitter, base-runner and defender. A career .282/.338/.469 hitter, Pollock does have some injury issues. He missed most of 2014 and all of 2016 but still is far and away the best player available in CF.

Other names include 2017-18 off-season candidate Jon Jay. However, Jay is a marginal, at best, upgrade over Ben Gamel, and isn’t any better in CF than Haniger. Perhaps the second biggest name is former Mariner Leonys Martin.

Martin had a breakout season at the plate in 2018, before his season was derailed by a stomach infection which forced Martin to spend time in the ICU. Before that, Martin slashed .255/.323/.425 with 11 homers and 8 steals in just 84 games.

Martin still plays a premier CF and is an excellent clubhouse presence that we know works well in Seattle. If the Mariners want to save money in CF to poor into the pitching staff, Leonys Martin might be the best way to improve in both areas.

If the Mariners do make an upgrade in centerfield, it will most likely be in the trade market. However, the team has to consider CF to be a massive priority, or be stuck watching Gordon and Heredia cost the team outs in the most important OF spot.