Way Too Early Seattle Mariners 2021 All-Star Predictions

Which Seattle Mariners players will make the 2021 MLB All-Star game?

Although we just started 2021, it is never too early to speculate which Seattle Mariners players would make the All-Star game. The Seattle Mariners have not been too terrible about sending players to the All-Star game in the past.

The Mariners won’t be sending eight players to the All-Star game as they did in 2001, but I think they could send a few this year. The MLB recently ensured every MLB team is represented in the All-Star game, so at least one Seattle Mariners player will be playing in Atlanta this summer. Here is my favorite to represent the team.

Seattle Mariners All-Star Prediction No. 1: Marco Gonzales

Marco Gonzales just gets better and better every year, and he continues to impress me with his pitching savvy. 2021 seems like the perfect season for him to make his first All-Star team.

In 2020, Marco posted a 3.10 ERA and led the league in walks per nine innings. He recorded a 7-2 record and a 1.5 WAR during the shortened regular season. It was the best season of his career.

The previous season, he posted an okay 3.99 ERA which is quite a drastic difference. Based on how he has improved over the years, I think Marco can continue improving and post a sub 3.00 ERA next season.

Gonzales acts like a veteran pitcher but he is still only 28-years-old. He still has so much potential. Marco doesn’t have a 95mph fastball, but he doesn’t need one. He’s learned to use what he has, and it has worked.

There are 12 spots for pitchers on the All-Star roster so I think Marco can definitely compete for a spot.

As I said before, at least one Seattle Mariners player is guaranteed a spot on the All-Star roster, but I don’t think Marco needs to use that free pass.

Now onto my second Seattle Mariners All-Star candidate.

Seattle Mariners All-Star Prediction No. 3: Tom Murphy

The Murph is back (in 2021)! Tom Murphy was an unsung hero in 2019 and people were excited to see what Murphy would produce in 2020. Unfortunately, we did not get to see him play after fracturing his left foot during summer camp.

Murphy is fully healed and on track to play in 2021. I think the 29-year-old catcher has the potential to be an All-Star player this season.

In 2019, Murphy batted .273 and hit 18 home runs in just 75 games. He also posted an impressive 2.7 WAR. Not too shabby.

I don’t want to say it’s easy to make the All-Star team as a catcher, but the competition isn’t the same as other positions like the outfield, where you have to compete against Mike Trout.

The 2019 AL All-Star catchers were Gary Sanchez and James McCann. In 2018, they were Wilson Ramos, Salvador Perez, and Yan Gomes.

Not that impressive of a group right? Now, the 2019 AL All-Star catchers are pretty much out of the conversation. McCann is in the National League now, and Gary Sanchez has lost his offensive ways.

So, the door is wide open for Tom Murphy to make the All-Star team. I am sure Murphy will be highly motivated to perform in 2021 because he missed the entire 2020 season, and he needs to prove his value for the Seattle Mariners’ future.

Or, Murphy might also be attempting to appeal to other general managers who might want his services at the trade deadline, just like Austin Nola.

I am excited to see Tom Murphy back on the field in 2021 and catching Gerrit Cole at Truist Park. Now onto my final prediction.

Seattle Mariners All-Star Prediction No. 4: Justus Sheffield

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The Sheff was cooking in 2020, and I think he has the potential to win a Michelin Star. Oops, wrong topic.

Justus impressed many people last season after a rough first year with the Seattle Mariners in 2019. After watching him in 2019, I was starting to worry about Sheffield and whether he would turn out to be the star he was projected.

He quickly proved me wrong and finished 2020 with a 3.58 ERA. It might not be all that impressive of an ERA for an MLB pitcher, but what stands out is the level of improvement.

In 2019, he posted a 5.50 ERA and walked 4.5 batters per nine innings. Sheffield made big improvements and clearly worked hard in the offseason.

What is exciting is he is still young and has plenty of areas to improve on. If he can make more adjustments like he did this past offseason, Sheffield has the potential to be an All-Star as quickly as next season.

Justus’ 3.58 ERA and 0.8 WAR from 2020 won’t get him into the 2021 All-Star team, but if he can lower it to 3.10 (like Marco), he would definitely be in the conversation.

As I said a couple of days ago, 2021 will be a really fun year as a Seattle Mariners fan. They won’t win the World Series, but the team will be a lot more competitive. I’m hoping these players will continue to develop and excel, so they can make their first All-Star games.