Seattle Mariners Sign #4 Prospect Evan White To A Long-Term Contract

Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto and his staff have been busy announced came out they have signed #4 top prospect and number 1 draft pick of 2017 Evan White to a long term contract. The terms it is a six-year deal for $24 million dollars that could jump to $55 million if all the options are met.

I haven’t seen a lot of Evan White play, but from what I have seen, he looks like one of the best players defensively at first base no matter what level of baseball. There is a good chance now that he will be one of the youngsters who will be playing for the Mariners every day in 2020.

Last season White played at double-A Arkansas where he hit .293 with 18 home runs and 55 RBI’s in 92 games. I am sure there are those who may wonder why the Mariners would do such a thing for a player who hasn’t played a game in major league baseball. I would say because they must feel he is a special player with a lot of upsides. Now we will see indeed.

I would not be surprised over the next couple years the Mariners will do the same for number 1 prospect Jarred Kelenic along with #2 prospect Julio Rodriguez and #3 Logan Gilbert. Of those three Gilbert likely will be the first one to see action in Seattle probably sometime this coming season.

Although it was in-house, Dipoto did do something. The signing of Evan White we could see the Mariners moving Domingo Santana or Daniel Vogelbach. Unless Santana improves defensively in the outfield, he looks to be a designated hitter most of the time. Even improvement in the field the Mariners have outfielders ahead of him, especially for the long term. Vogelbach only looks to be designated hitter against right-handed pitchers. There is a good chance both won’t be on the team.

Jerry Dipoto said that he wouldn’t rush anyone to the major leagues. But he must feel Evan White is ready to play now, or sometime during the season. His defense will help the Mariners infield. The Mariners can send him to triple-A Tacoma if he isn’t quite ready. This means to the Mariners might be planning to use Austin Nola as the backup catcher along with being one of two utility players. We will see, won’t we! Go M’s.