2023 Tale of the Tape Breakdown: Playoff Contenders, Mariners vs Rangers

A few years ago, an article series like this would have seemed like a waste of time. Before 2022, comparing the Seattle Mariners to anyone other than the worst teams in baseball was a waste of time. Now? Now things are different. In part 3 of an 8 part series, I'm going to take a look at the teams that could potentially stand in the Mariners way of not only making the postseason but winning the American League.

This week, we're going to see how the Mariners measure with a certain big spending ball club down in Texas.

Mariners Tale of the Tape: Big Spends in Arlington, the Texas Rangers

Offseason Summary

The 2022 Texas Rangers were one of baseball’s biggest disappointments in baseball at 68-94. To lose nearly 100 games after spending over $560 million was not acceptable. After former Rangers manager Chris Woodward’s disastrous tenure came to an end, the Rangers made another financial commitment to getting back to contention. 

Texas made big waves at the start of the offseason by agreeing to terms with Bruce Bochy to be their manager on a three-year deal. The former Padres and Giants manager, winner of 4 league championships and 3 World Series titles, brings immediate legitimacy to the Rangers vision of being a contender. After signing the two biggest offensive free agents in 2021, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, the Rangers went after shoring up their rotation. 

The Rangers acquired Jake Odorizzi, brought back Martin Perez on his qualifying offer, signed Andrew Heaney and Nathan Eovaldi, and then shocked the world by signing superstar pitcher Jacob deGrom. After another nearly $265 million spent on the pitching staff, there’s no excuse for the Rangers to not be a playoff contender, but are they a true contender?

So… The Rangers or the Mariners?

You have major holes in your roster when you go 68-94. The Rangers made arguably the biggest splash in free agency and should be rewarded if deGrom is healthy. When he is on, he's just flat-out better than Luis Castillo or Robbie Ray's best. We also know health is already a concern for him and if he's not the caliber of pitcher they paid for, the Mariners will not be threatened.

The offense has two legitimate stars, and they also have solid players in Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia. The rest of their lineup, and specifically outfield may be one of the five worst groups in all of baseball. One injury or slump and their ability to score runs will tank.

Their bullpen was a middle of the road group in 2022, which simply wasn't good enough. In last year's playoffs, eleven of the twelve playoff teams ranked in the top fourteen in bullpen ERA. The Rangers will look to their farm system for upgrades in the pen, but they lost their best reliever in Matt Moore, who posted a 203 ERA+ before signing with the Angels a few weeks ago. 

What I'm getting at is that this team may have the biggest gap in superstar talent to roster depth in all of baseball. This team could be carried by 5-6 stars to 88, but any injuries or letdowns and this team is right back in the low 70's win mark.

Even if deGrom shoves, the Mariners rotation as a whole is still stronger than Texas. Give me the Mariners massive advantage in their bullpen, as well as the depth in their lineup with Julio Rodriguez, Ty France, Eugenio Suarez, Cal Raleigh and Teoscar Hernandez over Seager and Semien.

Tale of the Tape Winner: Seattle Mariners