2022 New Years Resolutions for the Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners had one of the best years in franchise history in 2021. It was a year in which the team did the unthinkable and won 90 games. They missed the playoffs by two games after having a chance to make it in on the final day of the season. Down on the farm, several prospects made huge strides and appear to help the Mariners make another second half push for the playoffs. Here are a few New Years Resolutions for the club in 2022.

#1 Mariners – Make the Postseason!

The Seattle Mariners were as close as they have ever been to making the playoffs in 2021, winning 90 games, finishing two games out of the second wild-card spot and five games behind the Astros in the A.L. West. They played so well down the final stretch of the season, going 19-10 in September and October to barely miss out on the playoffs. 2022 is the year for the team to break through and make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

They had one of the best bullpens in baseball last year, including Paul Sewald, Kendall Graveman, Drew Steckenrider, and Casey Sadler, each of which had huge years for the team. You can’t forget about Diego Castillo as well. The bullpen will only get better with the additions of Andres Munoz and Ken Giles coming back from Tommy John surgery. The bullpen could be even better if the Mariners go out and add any arms for the bullpen. The group could also be joined by Justin Dunn and Justus Sheffield if they move to the ‘pen.

On the offensive side, Jarred Kelenic started to show signs of figuring out major league pitching in the final month to six weeks of the season. He should take a step forward and have a much better year where he is a key contributor to the lineup. He could knock in guys like Mitch Haniger and Ty France who should have huge years again if they stay healthy again all season. They need to go add a few more bats, but Jerry should be able to get it done.

#2 Julio Rodriguez – Come up and hit right away

Seattle Mariners top prospect Julio Rodriguez is coming off of a platform season last year. He put up gaudy numbers across all levels he played.

He started the 2021 season with the Everett AquaSox, but he did not stay long. He spent almost two calendar months there, but that was interrupted by playing for the Dominican Republic in Olympic qualifiers. He ended up finishing the minor league season out with the AA Arkansas Travelers after winning a bronze medal in the Olympics. Rodriguez showed that he has the potential to be a star on a worldwide stage, something the Mariners need.

Julio Rodriguez’s 2022 New Years’ resolution is to build on last year and be an impact player for the Mariners. He should aim to be up to Seattle by June and have a big impact. He has the potential to impact the Mariners lineup like Fernando Tatis and Juan Soto. If he can come up and just simply be average, that is a great sign for the Mariners. If he shows flashes of brilliance and is overall solid, then that is a big rookie season.

Even though it is going to be really hard for Julio Rodriguez to come out and have a big season at age 21, he is the only one that could do it. It is not out of the question that he can win the American League rookie of the year award. He can absolutely do it because he is arguably the most talented player in the Mariners organization. Fans should be beyond excited to see him make his debut in Seattle this year.

#3 Jerry Dipoto – Go make a splash!

Jerry Dipoto got a contract extension from owner John Stanton, pictured above with Dipoto, to get the Mariners from a young up-and-coming team to a playoff team. He has done a good job so far by surprising everyone and signing Robbie Ray to a five-year contract. Trading for Adam Frazier was nice, but he has to make some big-time moves now. The Mariners need to improve their lineup and add one more starter.

The Mariners need to sign one of Kris Bryant or Trevor Story. They have to get one of those two because they don’t have to trade assets for them, it only costs money. Signing Bryant would lock down third base for a long time in Seattle, and Story could play second or third base. It would be interesting to see what he would do in Seattle. The offensive production that the two of them offer is immense.

Besides those moves, the Mariners need to acquire a legit starting pitcher to make their rotation one of the best in the division. They could sign a Tyler Anderson or Garrett Richards type of pitcher, but they would need to sign someone better. Acquiring one of Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, or Frankie Montas would be huge for the Seattle rotation. Making the rotation a big strength would be amazing to watch in 2022.

Those are the things that need to do once the lockout ends, but making a big splash would be a huge step forward. Trading for Bryan Reynolds would be one of the biggest moves they could make, and it would certainly cost a lot, but it would be worth it. Signing Carlos Rodon would also be a big risk move with a big reward potentially. Trading for Jose Ramirez would also be a big-time splash, but that may be the least likely big splash move.

Mariners fans should be clamoring for two impact bats and two impact pitchers. If they get all four of those positions addressed with big impact players, the Mariners should almost certainly be a playoff team next year. The more big-time players added, the better for the Mariners in 2022.

#4 Logan Gilbert – Develop off-speed pitches

Logan Gilbert had a great rookie season last year. Was he the best rookie pitcher ever, no, but he was really solid. He came up in May and made every start for the rest of the season. He started 24 games and amassed 119.1 innings as a rookie. Those are big numbers, and he was fairly dependable every time out. He went only about 5 innings in most of his starts, but he showed in some starts front of the rotation potential.

Overall, Gilbert showed that his plus fastball was an above-average major league pitch. However, his off-speed pitches did not show the same potential. They were often inconsistent and he had to throw so many fastballs, it became a little too easy for hitters. Hitters would still struggle to barrel it up at times and fouled it off a lot, but he needs to have more offerings for hitters to worry about.

He threw his fastball over 60% of the time, but he needs to get more out of his slider, curveball, and changeup. Opponents hit below .100 on his curveball, but he only threw it 145 times last year. Opponents did not do well on his slider either, batting .211 against it in over 500 pitches. His changeup got knocked around a lot last year, so he should throw that pitch less than the others, but overall develop all of them more.

If Logan Gilbert can have more than one plus pitch, he will be a really good starting pitcher for the Mariners. His development of off-speed offerings will alter how the Seattle rotation will do in 2022. He could be the key to the Mariners season, meaning that how much he can grow next year will help take the Mariners to new heights.

#6 Matt Brash – Come up and be nasty for the Mariners

Matt Brash had one of the best seasons in the minor leagues last year. He pitched more innings than most of the Mariners top pitching prospects. He pitched just over 97 innings between high A Everett and AA Arkansas. He started almost exclusively and he showed that he could be a big-time impact starting pitcher. He was even added to the 40 man roster at the end of the season but did not get to pitch. He could be the first prospect added to the staff in 2022.

In Brash’s 97.1 innings, he had a whopping 148 strikeouts and 48 walks. Those were good for over a 13 K/9 and over a 4 BB/9. The walk numbers will have to get better if he is going to stick in the rotation, but he certainly has the upside to do it.

Matt Brash owns batters with his fastball that is in the upper 90s and goes with his insane slider. It is probably the best single pitch in the M’s organization. It is just a wipeout slider that is straight-up nasty. He could easily be a dominant fastball-slider pitcher out of the bullpen, but the Mariners want him to start if he can because he could be a dominant starter if he can have good command of his pitches.

The player comp that I believe would be a great goal for Matt Brash to be like in 2022 is Tanner Houck of the Boston Red Sox. Houck like Brash has a wipeout slider and a good fastball. Houck started 13 games and made 5 appearances out of the bullpen. If Matt Brash does something similar to this and is a swingman that can go multiple innings out of the bullpen and start a majority of his games, that is great for the Mariners in 2022.

The Seattle Mariners are poised to have a great year in 2022, and they have some young players that could impact them greatly. From Julio Rodriguez and Matt Brash poised to make big-time debuts, to battery mates Logan Gilbert and Cal Raleigh in need of more development. Jerry Dipoto also needs to build around them with veteran stars to help the Mariners break through and end the long playoff drought in Seattle in 2022.