Mariners fans will see good news in MLB insider's bounce-back candidates for 2025

Seattle Mariners fans will be well aware that The Athletic columnist and former Major League general manager Jim Bowden is not exactly a big fan of their ball club. As covered at the beginning of February by Sodo Mojo's Tremayne Person, he made an appearance on 93.3 KJR on the Softy and Dick show and ripped the Mariners' offseason.

There was no way anyone could mistake how Bowden felt about the Mariners' approach, as he said: "It’s disgusting gross embarrassing and makes you want to go to the toilet and throw up."

Despite this however, the 1999 Sporting News Major League Executive of the Year is now looking at the organization through a more positive lens, at least in a manner of speaking.

On Monday in The Athletic (subscription required), Bowden unveiled the six Major League teams he predicts are poised to bounce back in 2025. And right there among the six teams, were you very own Seattle Mariners.

In true Bowden style, he couldn't resist the opportunity to comment on last season's tepid offense and once again criticize the lack of moves made to improve the lineup during the offseason. However, he does praise Jerry Dipoto as smart and aggressive, and is convinced he will make one or two moves during the season to add the necessary bats, to help secure a wild card berth.

Jim Bowden references an obvious strength for the Mariners

Aside from this, Bowden understandably points towards the Mariners rotation as the main reason they can make the playoffs, calling them one of the five best in the Majors. He's also counting on Julio Rodríguez having a bounce-back campaign in 2025, going as far as to predict 35 home runs and 35 stolen bases as a realistic target for the ridiculously talented center fielder.

In one respect, it's interesting to describe the Mariners as a bounce-back candidate, just in the fact that they only finished one game back of a wild card place in each of the past two seasons. Also, they are one of just five teams with 85 or more wins in each of the past four seasons, with the Houston Astros being the only other team in the American League to achieve this feat.

At the same time, just because of the Mariners having only one playoff appearance during these past four seasons -- and indeed just the one since 2001 -- they do need to stop coming up just short. Which in turn justifies Bowden picking them as a bounce-back candidate, with the organization desperately needing to get a passionate but frustrated fan base back on its good graces.

Overall, this team is so close to being one of the best in the Majors and a big threat come playoff team by virtue of their rotation, but still needing a bit more belief and financial commitment by ownership. If the Mariners fall short of the playoffs once again in 2025, you can bet Bowden will be at the front of the queue, ready and willing to once again severely critique the organization.

Recent Posts