Ranking the Best Shortstops in Seattle Mariners History

OAKLAND - 1996: Alex Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners fields during an MLB game versus the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California during the 1996 season. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
OAKLAND - 1996: Alex Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners fields during an MLB game versus the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California during the 1996 season. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Mariners Carlos Guillen
SEATTLE – JULY 7: Shortstop Carlos Guillen #8 of the Seattle Mariners ranges to his left during the MLB game against the Minnesota Twins on July 7, 2002 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 8-2. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Mariners #3: Carlos Guillen – 7.2 fWAR

The Mariners actually had quite a nice run on shortstops. Vizquel from 1989-1993, A-Rod from 1994-2000, and Guillen from 01-03. Then Betancourt til nearly the end of the decade, with some Brendan Ryan and Jack Wilson thrown in after.

It seems like Guillen was there for longer, but those were the years that he started at shortstop. He played a little in 98 and 99 and played a fair amount of third in 2000 during A-Rod’s final season with the Mariners.

I’m going with 2003, his final season, as the best one that he had with the Mariners. His defense was a lot worse, but his bat was miles better. He would hit .276/.359/.394 with a 106 WRC+ that year. It was the first time he was above 96 in his career and would set off a streak of 6 straight seasons of 106 or better.

It was a sign of things to come, and it’s too bad that the Mariners were unable to keep him around, as he could have been a cornerstone for the team throughout the entire decade. From 2004-2008, Guillen would total an fWAR of 18.6. Guillen was still pretty good for the Mariners. If not for the team’s current shortstop, then I would’ve listed him as the second-best in the team’s history.

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