Mariners Offseason Plan: A Collaborative effort to figure out the Goal for 2023

Free Agency is set to start this week. The Mariners might just be in the best spot they have been in since… well, since they left the Kingdome. It does feel like the 2022/23 off-season is going to have the same main goal as the 2021/22 off-season did.

Bats. Offense. More Bats.

If you are going to argue that the Mariners don’t really need to add to the lineup, you are going to be a part of a very small group of fans. I can see the argument, but it doesn’t mean that I agree with it.

What we’ve done here at Sodo Mojo is put together a collaborative effort to examine what it is that we think the Mariners should do this offseason. You’ll see certain themes throughout, mostly revolving around the introduction to the article. Hitting. There is more to it than that. Some talk about the greater picture, and how it might be a hitting coaches/instructional thing. Others dive deep into positional needs and multiple options for upgrades. There’s also mention of some of the big-name guys, obviously.

This is an important offseason, as the Mariners truly do seem to be pushing for contention and a legitimate run at their first World Series appearance in team history. Goodness, do I want us off that dreaded list of teams to not make the World Series. You know, the one that looks like this.

Teams to not make the World Series

The Mariners

Yeah, I don’t like that. I’ve got a signed bottle of Edgar Martinez Mezcal sitting in my cupboard, just waiting to be opened and enjoyed the instant they make the World Series. The first one got opened when he made the HOF. Hopefully, I can open this one before my son can share it with me. He’s six, by the way.

Anyway, we decided to have anyone interested in putting together an off-season plan put their own spin on it. Then, we put them all in an article for your enjoyment. Yes, some of them are lengthy, and it might take you a while to get through them. With how much this offseason means to the Mariners, I think it will be worth it.

Each contributor is listed at the top of the page, and their Twitter handle is included. Let’s get started with one of our newest contributors, Christine Navarro. She looks at it from a different angle than most, and it’s a good starting point.

Mariners might need a New Hitting Coach

Christine Navarro

The Mariners’ management has some spots to fill this offseason, some that may be predictable at this point and others that could be determined by players’ decisions as free agents.

Starting Pitchers: Currently, the team has six (or possibly seven) starting pitchers for five slots. Free agent Chris Flexen has been excellent for Seattle and likely is already attracting attention from other teams. Sadly, let Chris Flexen go.

Bullpen: Matt Brash is a wild card. He could be a starter, but had great success in the bullpen and will likely stay there after embracing the role in 2022.

Short Stop/Second Base: Scott Servais is interested in a shortstop who will play second base. Since the team already has a great shortstop in J.P. Crawford, I suggest retaining free agent Adam Frazier for 2nd base if he wants to stay. According to Statcast, Frazier is rated 8th out of 39 MLB players at 2nd base for Outs Above Average and in Runs Prevented.

Right Field: I hope that the Mariners offer Mitch Haniger an attractive contract. If he and/or management decide otherwise, Jared Kelenic is a right-field player. Play first-choice Haniger or second-choice Kelenic in right field.

Left Field: When Jesse Winker has been unable to play, Sam Haggarty has played well in his place. Split the position between Winker and Haggarty.

Carlos Santana is a free agent. He provides leadership, is a strong first baseman when needed, hits home runs, and runs the bases with amazing speed. Keeping Santana might mean letting go of another player from the list of 40. Unless Santana has a great offer elsewhere, sadly choose between Santana and another player once that second player is identified.

Hitting Coaches Mariners’ management, we know that our players can hit, but why they did not hit more regularly in the regular season is a mystery. To what extent does the responsibility for the scoring drought lie with the hitting coaches? I looked at the Rainiers’ hitting coach and at the coaches, if named, for the other American League West teams just to learn a bit about these positions.

Jarret DeHart is Hitting Coach and Director of Hitting Strategy for the Mariners and Tony Arnerich is a Hitting Coach. De Hart has never played professional baseball but came to the Mariners’ organization with college baseball experience only. Tony Arnerich did play professionally, but primarily on A or A+ teams.

I remember hearing that players moving from the minor leagues to the majors have to adjust primarily to better pitching. My question is, does a hitting coach need to have more experience in the major leagues in order to coach MLB players well?

Brad Marcelino is the hitting coach for the Tacoma Rainiers. Marcelino has extensive experience as a player for Great Britain between 1999 and 2018, has shown success hitting and scoring, and is in the Great Britain Baseball Hall of Fame. I believe Marcelino coached Cal Raleigh who subsequently became a homerun-loving catcher. Might Marcelino be a good candidate?

My recommendation is that the Mariners’ management, if they do not already have the top-hitting coaches, seek them out.

A Full-Fledged Plan for a Mariners World Series

Michael Thompson

Thankfully, the World Series is over. With the Houston Astros finally achieving a legitimate championship and becoming a dynasty, it is time for the Seattle Mariners to come for the throne. The Mariners finally broke their playoff curse and experienced the joy and heartbreak of the playoffs. Now, with my offseason plan, I believe I have put a team together that can not only overcome the Astros but bring a World Series to Seattle.

So before we go through the plan, let’s talk about finances. The Mariners are currently sitting at a projected 2023 total payroll of around $122 million, which would put them right around the 13-15 range in comparison to the 29 other MLB teams. That’s a far cry from the Astros and Phillies who are projected to be around $191-196 million in projected payroll, and neither of those is the highest in baseball. If Seattle is truly committed to winning a championship, ownership will need to step up.

I may be in the minority here, but I truly believe that John Stanton will step up to the plate. I’m not expecting a team to break $200 million, but I think $185 to $190 million is realistic and should be the goal in terms of matching Houston. With that in mind, we’re going to put a cap on added payroll at $70 million, which would be right where the Astros and Phillies sit, before those teams potentially splurge in free agency this year.

Another important factor in building my team is the basis that I am building a championship-caliber team that will be a perfect fit for superstar Shohei Ohtani next winter. The Mariners finished as a runner-up to his services back in 2018. No more a bridesmaid, the Mariners have to be the bride and sign the greatest player of our generation. The fit could be what the Warriors and Kevin Durant experienced when they teamed up…a dynasty.

Now that we have our budget and focus, let’s go build a championship team!

Task #1- Call San Diego about Tatis and Snell

Before you roll your eyes and move on to the next slide, hear me out. The San Diego Padres have been dealing with Fernando Tatis Jr drama for an entire year. Injuries, poor communication, maturity issues, and now the PED suspension. This has not been a good year for Tatis. Meanwhile, without Tatis, the Padres acquired Juan Soto, upset the 111-win Los Angeles Dodgers, and lost a hard-fought NLCS to Philly.

The Padres proved they could win without Tatis, as well as with a below-average version of Juan Soto they got in the trade. An improved Soto could mean the World Series is within reach. The Padres are also within reach of the luxury tax, and that is a place they don’t want to be. If they want to hitch their wagon to Juan Soto and stay under the tax, then they need to seriously consider trading the suspended star in Tatis.

The Mariners don’t have an overwhelming amount of prospects to wow San Diego, but they have enough, plus the desire to help give the Padres a get-out-of-jail-free card.

The Mariners can offer the Padres a package involving Logan Gilbert, Jarred Kelenic, Chris Flexen, Penn Murfee, and Gabriel Gonzalez in exchange for Fernando Tatis and Seattle native and former Cy Young winner Blake Snell.

In this trade, San Diego is acquiring a young potential ace of their rotation in Logan Gilbert, a solid depth starter in Flexen, who don’t forget, pitched very well against a Padres team that is expected to lose most of their rotation between now and 2024. Murfee had a strong year out of the bullpen and can be an asset for them. From the hitting perspective, Kelenic could be a star with a fresh start, and Gabriel Gonzalez is a top 5 prospect in the system.

I’d be open to throwing another top 10-12 prospect to San Diego, but not much more. I don’t want to gut my team, but I am willing to take the financial risk on the ceilings of both Tatis Jr and Snell. It’s a risk, but if right, Seattle may have the two best hitters in baseball by next year.

I fully expect the Padres to hang up the phone on this deal, but before I do anything else this winter, I make them an offer.

Task #2- Sign a Franchise Shortstop

The Astros and Phillies taught us that there are multiple ways to win a pennant. You can develop, or buy elite talent. In my building plan, the Mariners do a little bit of both. They don’t mess with the established core of Julio, Cal Raleigh, and Ty France, but they are open to adding the right talent that fits their timeline. I believe Carlos Correa is the perfect fit for the Seattle Mariners.

While many will clamor for Trea Turner, who I think would be a great fit initially, I believe that Correa’s talent will age much better than Turner’s. With a career OPS+ of 129, including a 140 in 2022, Correa is the best bat available not named Aaron Judge in free agency. Correa is also the best defender of the crop of shortstops.

While the concerns about his size and back are fair, I believe he could eventually replace Eugenio Suarez and instantly become a top 5 defensive 3rd baseman. In a world where the shift is in the process of being eliminated to an extent, the ability to move J.P. Crawford to 2nd base could be huge in Seattle keeping an elite defense again.

The other big concern is how he’d fit in Seattle after the cheating scandal from 2017-2019. The majority of those Mariners are gone, and while it may be a little awkward at first, remember…the enemy of my enemy is my friend. In case you haven’t seen it, go watch Correa interview Jeremy Pena after Houston swept Seattle on TBS. Yeah, Correa wants to get paid, but he also wants revenge. The unity of Carlos Correa and Seattle gives them each exactly what they want, a star joining a contender that can beat the Astros.

If Correa is not interested in Seattle, we’d divert our attention to Xander Bogaerts. The price for Bogaerts is less than Correa, but the ceiling is lower offensively and defensively. He might not be a star, but he’d definitely make Seattle better.

In this scenario the Mariners are aggressive early in free agency, putting Houston and the league on notice.

Seattle signs Carlos Correa for 10 years and $330 million

Task #3- Get Your “Alvarez” Guy

After watching this postseason, especially the American League side of the bracket, it’s not that far-fetched to say that if the Mariners could find a way to get Yordan Alvarez out, they’d have been playing in the World Series. While local boy Matthew Boyd showed some promise late this year, I’m willing to spend a little extra, and take a shot on a bounce-back year from left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers.

Rogers has been an underrated and borderline-elite reliever during his six years at Minnesota. His 2022 season was a bit of a nightmare. A terrible first half in San Diego led to a midseason trade to Milwaukee, but things did not get any better. With a brutal season heading into free agency, you have to think he’s interested in a one-year deal to rebuild his value. Seattle should jump on this opportunity.

With a great bullpen last year, the Mariners can still use more depth and a potentially elite left-handed option that the pen desperately needs. A left-handed specialist that could also be a setup man, Rogers will be called upon this season to sit down the Kyle Tucker’s and Yordan Alvarez’s of the world.

Seattle signs Taylor Rogers for 1 year and $8 million

Task #4- Rebuild the Outfield

To the fans that are hoping for Aaron Judge to Seattle, hope harder. I would be cautiously excited if I was wrong, but it sure seems that Judge will wind up back in New York, or somewhere in California. While we chose to go after Correa instead of Judge, we’re still looking to get better and more consistent on both offense and defense.

Mitch Haniger has been a key part of the culture in Seattle and is one of the faces of this rebuild. When healthy he’s been a great player, but his health has been and will always be an issue. His ability to hit anything other than fastballs in 2022 was very concerning. He’s a Mariners legend in my book, but if he finds any deal over $14 million then I’d thank him and wish him the best of luck.

Jesse Winker has been anything but a key part of the Seattle Mariners success in 2022. Other than the “pizza brawl”, Winker has been negative in almost every facet of this ballclub. The Mariners are on the up and don’t have time for a cancer that can’t hit, or field. I’m trading him to the Chicago White Sox for relief pitcher Jake Diekman and a top-25 prospect in Chicago’s farm, 1B/3B Wilfred Veras.

Diekman had a terrible season in Chicago but has a history of being a strong left-handed relief option. His salary is $4 million, less than half of Winker’s. He is under contract through 2024 but has a $4 million club option.

The Mariners are getting a young bat in Veras that is most likely a 1st baseman but definitely has some major pop in his bat. He’s likely 3 years away from sniffing the bigs but could be of value to Seattle. The Mariners dump the locker room cancer, getting a prospect and a bounceback candidate reliever.

With Haniger and Winker gone, my first addition to the outfield is left-fielder Andrew Benintendi. Benintendi, a former world champion in Boston, won a Gold Glove in Kansas City last season, was a finalist this year and was an all-star before getting hurt shortly after a trade deadline move to the Yankees. At just 28, he’s never been a power hitter but has consistently been an above-average hitter (career OPS+ of 109, 120 in 2022), while being the best defensive left fielder in baseball the past few years.

We feel like replacing Jesse Winker, both offensively and defensively, with Benintendi, could be as valuable of a signing as Correa, and for less than half the cost. A solid hitter in the 2 or 6-hole, his lack of power lowers his average annual value to around $15 million. We’re jumping all over that.

Seattle signs Andrew Benintendi for 5 years $80 million

In right field, I feel comfortable giving Jarred Kelenic another year to become the prince that was promised, but I’m going to create more safety nets. We saw some good and bad in Kelenic’s return late in the season. Injuries to Winker and Sam Haggerty forced him into a starting role for the playoffs and he wasn’t great, but he did have some good moments at the plate while playing really good defense.

He’ll be 23 until the middle of July, and still has the potential to be something even if it’s not the star we thought was going to partner up with Julio. I give him the opportunity to win the job in right field, but he’s going to have to win it over many challengers.

In-house, I really liked what I saw from utility glue guys Dylan Moore and Sam Haggerty. Both are better suited for utility roles, but could easily take on a starting role in the outfield. You have Taylor Trammell who’s shown flashes, but has never quite put it together consistently yet. While their health will always be questioned, don’t forget about former starters Kyle Lewis and Evan White. If either is healthy and can swing the bat like we’ve seen flashes of, they could push Kelenic.

Outside the organization, I’m going to sign right fielder/DH and Seattle native Michael Conforto to a deal. Conforto had a weird free agency under Scott Boras lost year, where he eventually had a major shoulder operation that essentially cost him to sit out the season. Now a full year off, rested and healthy, Conforto is ready to get back to his all-star level of play.

Before injuries affected him in 2021 and cost him 2022, Conforto was an all-star quality hitter. With a career OPS+ of 124 and the consistent threat of hitting 30 home runs from the left side of the plate, he brings something that Seattle desperately needs in their lineup.

The addition of Conforto now gives Seattle multiple options in the event that Kelenic struggles or injuries happen.

Conforto’s contract will be somewhat unique. I’d expect a 2-year deal, filled with incentives and a player opt-out after year 1.

Seattle signs Michael Conforto for 2 years and $37 million ($12 mil base in year 1, with incentives up to $17 mil)

Offseason Plan in Review

We started our off-season with a clear focus and set our budget at $70 million. The signings of Correa, Rogers, Benintendi, and Conforto equal $74 million in AAV. Take in the trading of Jesse Winker and his $8.25 million dollar salary for Jake Diekman’s $4 million, and that puts our off-season additions at $69.75 million, just under budget. That also doesn’t account for me looking to trade Flexen and his $8 million dollar salary for some prospect depth in the aftermath of the Luis Castillo trade.

So what does that money look like out on the field? Well, we added a superstar talent with a middle-of-the-order type of bat in Carlos Correa. We improved our depth, our defense, and our offense dramatically in the corner outfield spots. We added two former elite left-handed relievers with the hope one of them bounces back.

Here’s my 2023 Seattle Mariners roster

Lineup

1. Rodriguez – CF
2. Benintendi – LF
3. Correa – SS
4. Raleigh – C
5. Suarez – 3B
6. France – 1B
7. Conforto – DH
8. Kelenic – RF
9. Crawford – 2B

Bench

• Haggerty
• Moore
• Murphy
• Trammell/White/Lewis

Rotation

1. Castillo
2. Ray
3. Kirby
4. Gilbert
5. Gonzales

Bullpen

• Festa/Murfee
• Diekman
• Castillo
• Swanson
• Rogers
• Brash
• Sewald
• Munoz

When I look at this roster, I see a realistic path to the World Series. The starting lineup only has one player with an OPS+ under 100, and the defense in a post-shift world may be the best Seattle has seen in a decade. We added a star in Correa, and expect to see continued growth from Julio Rodriguez. Don’t forget, the team is now getting the potential for a full season from both Castillo and Kirby in the rotation.

The 2023 Seattle Mariners are better at every facet of the game than in 2022. This is a team capable of winning 100 games, and can now put enough pressure offensively on Houston, a potential playoff series may come down to who gets home-field advantage.

This team is ready, and I hope Ohtani is watching…

How the Mariners can become a Legit Contender

Trevor Pedro

This year the Mariners became one of only six teams in Major League Baseball to record back-to-back 90+ win seasons, and there is a good chance they can rack up another in 2023. But that will only happen if the team makes the required moves to close the gap between them and the juggernaut, Houston Astros. Remember, despite the drought buster, this team was 16 games back in the AL West standings.

As President of Baseball Operations, Jerry Dipoto has proven he can win a trade (see 2020 deal with San Diego), and thanks to the buzz this team generated this year, he should be able to bring in some free agents. That combination approach is what it will take to continue the upward trajectory.

Mariners Positional Needs

Adam Frazier, Carlos Santana, Curt Casali, Matthew Boyd, and Mitch Haniger are all free agents this offseason. That is a lot of production (and clutch performances) to replace, specifically in the lineup where the four offensive players combined for a .200 average, 31 homers, and 139 RBIs. Yes, that isn’t much, but with this team, you must think past the traditional stats. Mitch was the team leader, Carlos provided tremendous leadership and game-changing at-bats, Frazier showed versatility by playing four positions, and Casali was a solid backup catcher.

Management must replace all those players this offseason through trades or on the free agent market. If we are ranking our positional needs going into the offseason, I will list the following, along with the possible options the order:

• 2B/SS
• Corner OF
• RP
• 1B/DH

Mariners Offseason Gameplan

I didn’t list top bats Aaron Judge and Trae Turner. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t welcome them to Seattle with open arms as a fan. However, I don’t think there is a world where Dipoto and new General Manager Justin Hollander land one of the All-Stars. Turner has expressed his desire to return to the East Coast, and the Dodgers and Giants have leaked their wish to land the 2022 MLB MVP.

2023 Mariners Needs and Options

* = Trade

There is a world where they let Mitch Haniger test free agency, and he comes back to them on a two-year deal as the one Mark Canha received from the Mets last offseason (2/32M). That move wouldn’t affect an offseason predicated on spending free-agent dollars. According to Fangraphs/Spotrac, the team has the 21st-highest payroll going into 2023. The team might throw the bag at Correa if Mitch does come back, considering the move would solidify the outfield. If Mitch walks, I’d take a long hard look at Brandon Nimmo.

Correa is getting a lot of flak in the media due to the emergence of Jeremy Pena. This may motivate him to come to Seattle for a revenge tour. You never know, but something about Carlos Correa on the ‘good guys’ side against the Astros is must-watch tv. Plus, his elite defense, bat-to-ball skills, power, and 5.5 WAR are just what the doctor ordered to fix this offense.

If the team does land Correa, it will take a big-time offer. Probably upwards of AAV of $35M. Teamed with resigning Haniger or ponying up for Nimmo will likely change who we can land to fill our other identified positional needs. So long story short, come on down, Matthew Boyd and the Anthonys (Rizzo or Santander), or at least players like them. They are not elite, but they have some tools that could help this team close the gap in the AL West.

Mariners Offseason Moves and Projected Payroll

Guessing what Jerry Dipoto has up his sleeve is tough sledding. The team does a great job at preventing leaks and surprising the fan base (e.g., Luis Castillo). But if I’m in the hot seat, I make the following moves.

Mariners Projected Starting Lineup

• RF – Brandon Nimmo
• 1B – Ty France
• CF – Julio Rodriguez
• SS – Carlos Correa
• C – Cal Raleigh
• 3B – Eugenio Suarez
• LF – Jarred Kelenic
• DH – Anthony Santander
• 2B – JP Crawford

These moves would add $69M to the payroll, jumping the Mariners into the top ten in spending. The team has performed well with a limited budget for the past few years. Now is the time to pay and provide young stars Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh, George Kirby, and Logan Gilbert with the supporting cast to overtake that team in Houston.

This lineup could compete with the best in the AL and the bench offers tremendous flexibility with the likes of a rejuvenated Tom Murphy, Sam Haggerty, Dylan Moore, and Luis Torrens (plus Jesse Winker if he is still around in March).

Mariners Prospects on the Way

Free Agency and trades are just some of the avenues for roster improvement. Despite a few trades last year, there is plenty of impact talent in the minors, especially on the bump, where Emerson Hancock, Bryce Miller, Taylor Dollard, Prelander Berroa, and Bryan Woo made tremendous strides. There is a good chance a couple of those hurlers will make their debuts next year, even if it is a Matt Brash-type relief option.

Most position player talent is in the lower levels, but don’t sleep on Cade Marlowe. If the team allows Mitch Haniger to walk, Marlowe could provide a good speed and power combo in RF next to Julio. He amassed consecutive seasons of 20 homers and 20 steals (23 HR/42 SB) across multiple system levels. Not to mention, he was on the postseason taxi squad, which means Mariner brass sees him as a piece in the future. Of course, that future might be next season.

The Mariners need more hitting… period

Chris O’Day

If the Mariners don’t get a big-time upgrade on offense, I’m going to be upset.

Does that sound whiney? Probably, yeah. It does.

Do I care? No, I don’t.

Here’s why.

The Mariners might just be in the best position they have been in since leaving the Kingdome. Sure, they had the 116-win team, but they kind of came out of nowhere, and people weren’t really expecting that. They were in a great spot heading in 2002, but the prospects didn’t pan out and the team fell back to earth with a resounding thud. 93-69, yes, but 3rd in the division.

Now, we are looking at a team that is going to be at the top of every conversation for the greatest rotation in baseball. If Robbie Ray pitches at about 85% of his ceiling, he is a nasty, nasty #2 to have. Gilbert and Kirby are only getting better. If we can give Castillo the run support he deserves, that is a 20-game winner with 200 IP under his belt, easy.

The bullpen is great. Youth, nasty sliders, and don’t forget that we are getting Casey Sadler back. I don’t see many issues there. Sure, they could be unlucky, but with the talent behind the LF wall, that would still be a good bullpen even with bad luck.

It’s the offense. We need a healthy Ty France. We need Kelenic to live up to some level of those lofty expectations and produce at a strong MLB level in order to achieve enough production from him. Personally, I believe, but that’s part of the issue. We need Haniger, if he comes back, to stay healthy. We need Winker to get back to 2021 Winker. We need JP to hit .270 again. We need Suarez to produce at the same level like he did in 2022.

Guess what?

Those are too many needs to have on a team throughout your offense.

The Mariners need a top-level bat. I think I want Turner or Bogaerts the most. I’m not sure, to be honest. I think all four SS (Turner, Bogaerts, Correa, and Swanson) have their massive pros and minor cons. I would be ecstatic if we got any of them. Same with Judge and quite possibly Brandon Nimmo.

I don’t care which one we get. I want to hear that we are in heavy talks with at least one of them and that we end up signing at least one of them. It doesn’t matter which. Swanson and Judge. Nimmo and Correa. I don’t care. The Mariners need an impact bat. Any of them will suffice.

This team is close. Fans can taste it, and I think the players can too. Shoot, I think other teams can taste it. Houston was scared, even in a sweep. Also, if you think “It wasn’t close cause they swept the Mariners” then you are an idiot. One more bat? It makes the lineup pretty darn good. Two bats?! That’s a scary lineup. Yeah, I know it would be something in the range of $55-65 Million added (Haniger, Nimmo, Swanson), but think about a lineup like this next year.

1. Swanson – SS
2. France – 1B
3. Julio – CF
4. Nimmo – LF
5. Suarez – 3B
6. Raleigh – C
7. Kelenic – RF
8. Haniger – DH
9. Crawford – 2B

Trader Jerry and Co. please make it happen. I know you have said that most of the team is here already. It makes sense, cause there weren’t a lot of players entering FA. To not make any major additions would be a failure. I anxiously await the offseason and will be devouring and writing about any rumors that I hear.

The Mariners Need to Get More Bats

Emmitt Sevores

For me, the Mariners should have one simple goal this off-season. Get more bats.

Yes, bullpen arms for competition and the search for a fifth starter should be looked at by Seattle’s brass, but the team’s shortcomings this year were due to offense. The two positions that I look at and I think could use a potential upgrade are middle infield and corner outfield.

Let’s start with the latter.

The gem of this year’s free agent class is Yankees OF Aaron Judge. Seattle should make Judge a hefty offer. The Mariners could very well be outbid by either New York team and potentially even the Giants, but you have to make the call. The worst case scenario if you offer is that he says no, the worst case if you don’t is that Judge signs for a deal worth less than expected, and you miss out on the likely AL MVP.

The other reason that the Mariners should be in on Judge, and any other corner outfielder on the market, is that they have reportedly decided against making a qualifying offer for Mitch Haniger and Jesse Winker’s future with the club is up in the air as well.

The corner outfield is a hole that must be addressed. The other obvious spot is the middle infield. Adam Frazier was not what we expected for much of last year’s campaign. An underwhelming season puts the Mariners back in contention for a new second baseman or shortstop. Jerry Dipoto holds the cards for how the Mariners address this. Last year he promised that JP Crawford was going to be the starting shortstop, and JP was.

This year he had a slight change to his tune. He implied that the goal would be to get a shortstop who wants to play second base but the promise he made last year wouldn’t stop them from moving JP next to Ty France. There are four huge shortstops on the market this year. Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Dansby Swanson, and Xander Bogaerts.

My favorite of all is Turner. He will cost the most but he is the best shortstop available. He has been consistent over the past five years and has had good home/road and lefty/righty splits.

Swanson is the least likely for Seattle. He’s a Georgia boy, the Braves will get it done.

I hold Correa and Bogaerts in the same regard, the best possible consolation prize if you can’t land Turner. I would be happy with any of the four landing in Seattle, but if they are able to land Turner and a big-time outfielder, watch out American League.

Empty the Pockets and Go Big

Tyler Zornes

My plan is a bit different. Let’s go step-by-step through it.

1. Go all-in on Trea Turner to be starting SS (Xander Bogaerts as the backup option but he would play 2B. Maybe Correa as a third option, but not ideally)
2. Re-sign Mitch Haniger
3. Re-sign Carlos Santana
4. Sign SP (Kodai Senga, Taijuan Walker, Nathan Eovaldi)
5. Let Frazier walk
6. Sign Brandon Nimmo OR trade for someone similar (Ian Happ, Bryan Reynolds). Use Gonzales/Flexen to trade for other OF targets.
7. The infield would remain the same except for the SS/2B situation explained above
8. Outfield would be a position battle for the corner spots between Nimmo, Kelenic, Haniger, and Winker.
9. Choose whether 14 position players and 12 pitchers Or go with a 13-13 split

Mariners Opening Day Lineup:

Luis Castillo SP

Julio Rodriguez CF
Trea Turner SS
Eugenio Suarez 3B
Cal Raleigh C
Ty France 1B
Mitch Haniger RF
Carlos Santana DH
Brandon Nimmo LF
JP Crawford 2B

Bench:

Jesse Winker
Tom Murphy
Jarred Kelenic
Dylan Moore
Kyle Lewis?? 14th position player??
Minors who will bounce back and forth:

Kyle Lewis – Health
Casey Sadler – Health
Sam Haggerty
Luis Torrens
Taylor Trammell

Rotation:

Luis Castillo
Robbie Ray
Logan Gilbert
George Kirby
Marco Gonzales

Bullpen:

Andres Muñoz
Penn Murfee
Paul Sewald
Diego Castillo
Matt Brash
Matthew Festa
Erik Swanson
Casey Sadler?? 13th pitcher??

It’s more of a brainstorming style list, but you get the idea. Get hitting. Get more hitting. Possibly grab another SP. Dominate.

This might be the most crucial offseason in Mariners history. They are relevant again. The team looks to be on the actual verge of contention. They’re fun to watch and dangerous. Stay tuned all offseason for any and all Mariners news.