3 Mariners players who may not be back after 2021

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 22: Luis Torrens #22 of the Seattle Mariners looks on in the first inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on September 22, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 22: Luis Torrens #22 of the Seattle Mariners looks on in the first inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on September 22, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
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Luis Torrens of the Seattle Mariners looks on.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 04: Luis Torrens of the Seattle Mariners reacts after hitting a ground out.(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

Luis Torrens

Luis Torrens just came over last season from the San Diego Padres in the Austin Nola deal as the lowest value player in the trade, as he was behind the likes of Taylor Trammell, Ty France, and Andres Muñoz. However, he has a real chance to be the backup catcher for the Mariners for 5-6 years.

If he can avoid injury he is also pretty much guaranteed to be in a platoon role with Tom Murphy to start the 2021 season, as Jerry Dipto recently said. The reason that he is “pretty much guaranteed” to be on the roster and given a chance is that he has no minor league options left. That means that if the Mariners want to send Torrens down to the minors for poor performance or to bring up top-catching prospect Cal Raleigh, he will have to clear waivers.

So, Torrens is heading into a real make-or-break season. He performed well last year for a 24-year-old catcher who is expected to be a backup with a .696 OPS which was a 96 OPS+ (Just slightly below average). But, if he stumbles this year Cal Raleigh is waiting in the wings to take over his spot and Torrens will be somewhere else after being claimed off waivers.

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