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

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.