This offseason for the Seattle Mariners has been turbulent, to say the least. Regardless of what the payroll situation is or if the Mariners are trying to win an exact percentage of their games, it has not been the offseason fans dreamed of. However, this offseason could mean some of the Mariners top prospects are more valuable to the Mariners organization going forward because they will be cost-controlled for multiple seasons coming up.
If the Mariners are in trouble with their payroll, their prospects who are closest to the big leagues could be the most valuable pieces in their farm system. Youngsters like Tai Peete, Colt Emerson, and Jonny Farmelo are very exciting prospects, but there are three guys who likely will see Double-A next year who could be important pieces of a 2025 team that might need to have some cheaper players on it.
There are plenty of good prospects in the Mariners system, but let's look at some specific players that they have. So, here are the three Mariners prospects whose value is going up because they will arrive in the next two years.
Cole Young is currently ranked as the Mariners number one prospect by MLB Pipeline and he showed out last season in Modesto and Everett. The 20-year-old hit 277/.399/.449 in over 600 plate appearances between his two minor league teams last year. He showed a good feel for hitting and he is arguably the best pure hitter the Mariners have in the minor leagues. He probably doesn't stick at shortstop, but I think he will be a plus defender at second with a good bat.
We won't know where he is assigned to start the season for several months, but I fully expect Young to see at least some time at Double-A Arkansas in 2024. I would not push him and send him to Triple-A Tacoma or the big leagues at all next year, he's not the type of prospect Julio Rodriguez was. But, in 2025 he could be the starting second baseman or maybe come up halfway through the season and be a big contributor on the infield for this team for the second half of the decade.
2. Harry Ford is the second prospect to keep
SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game / Alika Jenner/GettyImages
Harry Ford drew the attention of fans worldwide this year. He was a big part of Great Britain's World Baseball Classic team and he hit some big home runs that fans saw. He had a good regular season up in Everett, but it wasn't an elite offensive season on-base. Ford hit .257/.410/.430 in just over 550 plate appearances with the AquaSox and he continued to show his elite on-base skills by posting an on-base percentage of over .400.
It is hard to evaluate and scout minor league catchers, but Ford doesn't look like he will be a problem behind the plate in the big leagues in a couple of years. After spending all of the 2023 season in High-A Everett I expect Ford to start in Double-A Arkansas. I don't see him earning a September call-up because catchers need lots of development time in the minors. He could, however, be a backup to veteran Cal Raleigh in 2025 and be a cost-effective backup at the catcher position.
3. Tyler Locklear is the third prospect to keep
"I just try to be as complete of a hitter as I can be."
Tyler Locklear is the only prospect on this list who has already reached the Double-A level. He started the 2023 season on a tear with Everett but then got hit on the hand and missed time due to a broken hand. He then came back and was promoted to Double-A. In Arkansas, he hit .260/.383/.403 in 22 games and had a nice showing in the Arizona Fall League. He could be the first of this trio who is ready for the big leagues because he is three years older than the other two and plays the least demanding defensive position.
I would not expect to see Locklear in a Mariners uniform in 2024 unless he absolutely rakes with Arkansas and then earns a Triple-A or a big league call-up. He could also be connected to Ty France's performance because if France is struggling and Locklear is surging, the front office could look to swap the two at first base to try to get better production at a cheaper price. If France has a subpar 2024 then he could be a non-tender candidate and then we could see Locklear in 2025.
Prospects have always been fun and exciting because they have the potential to be something great. However, that is not always the case, but that does not stop fans, organizations, or the media from hopping on them. These three had value as either trade chips or as long-term upside plays. However, if the Mariners are really in a tight budget situation and are going to cut payroll, who are the most important players to have? Cheaper ones.
These three are going to make the Major League minimum for their first three full years in the big leagues whenever they get there. In two years the Mariners need to be extending Cal Raleigh, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and hopefully signing some free agents. Having three young, talented, and cost-controlled players on their roster would be immensely valuable for this team in two years. These three need to stick around.
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