Seattle Mariners All-Decade Team: Third Baseman

We continue to cruise right along with our look at the best Mariners at each position of the last decade. Today, we crown our hot corner champion.

The 2010s for Mariners fans were filled with disappointment. The decade long playoff drought was never broken, and there were a lot of lean years. However, there were a few positives and a few franchise greats that wore the Navy Blue and teal in the decade.

We have already crowned our starting catcher, first base, and second baseman, but before we crown perhaps the second most obvious champion, let’s just lay down the ground rules.

First and foremost, you only need 1 game at the position wearing a Mariners uniform to be eligible. However, only the statistics accrued in a Mariners uniform between the years of 2010 and 2019 will count.

While most of the analysis will come from their statistics, but there are few x-factors that can sway the scales if the statistics are indeed close. But with all that in mind, let’s go ahead and name the obvious All-Decade Team Third Baseman.

Mariners All-Decade Third Baseman: Kyle Seager

No reason to beat around the bush. Not only is Kyle Seager the clear winner, but there isn’t even anybody else worthy of discussion. In fact, only 2 other players got more than 200 PAs at third base in the decade: Jose Lopez and Chone Figgins.

But Seager doesn’t just make the list by default. Seager has been the most consistent offensive threat the franchise has had for the decade. His .256/.324/.443 slash line and well-above-average defense stand out as one of the only bright spots of the Jack Zduriencik player development era.

Seager finished the decade with 198 home runs, most of any Mariner of the decade. He also finished first in games played, plate appearances, runs, RBI, doubles, walks, and fWAR amongst all offensive players.

Seager is a surefire Mariners Hall of Famer and still has at least 2 years to add to his legacy in Seattle. He has been the subject of trade rumors this winter, but will more than likely finish out his contract after the 2021 season.

Seager is constantly overlooked by fans of the team, which is odd considering this fan bases nearly detrimental loyalty to their players. Seager has been a popular whipping boy over the past 3 seasons, while Mariners fans desperately try to defend the final 3 years of franchise icon Felix Hernandez.

But at the end of the day, Seager is easily the best third baseman in franchise history and the clear choice to handle the hot corner on this All-Decade Team.