Seattle Mariners All-Dipoto Acquisition Team: Bench

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 20: Omar Narvaez #22 of the Seattle Mariners throws to second base during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 20, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 20: Omar Narvaez #22 of the Seattle Mariners throws to second base during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 20, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 24: Austin Nola #23 of the Seattle Mariners takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on September 24, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Astros won 3-0. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 24: Austin Nola #23 of the Seattle Mariners takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on September 24, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Astros won 3-0. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

AUSTIN NOLA

Austin Nola was very close to being this team’s starting second baseman, but we felt more comfortable in not restricting him to one confined role and allowing him to roam freely amongst the many positions he can play. So while Nola may be listed as a bench piece on this roster, consider him to be a pseudo-regular.

The career Minor Leaguer finally made his MLB debut at the age of 29 last year and never looked back. Primarily serving as the team’s first baseman, Nola only committed one error while logging innings at every position minus pitcher and shortstop, and slashed .269/.342/.454 with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs to boot.

With Nola in line to take on more responsibilities behind the plate whenever the 2020 season finally gets underway, we view him as more of the backup catcher than Narváez. As mentioned, however, Nola would play a ton all over the place with the way we constructed this roster, so Narváez would get the opportunity to catch here and there.

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