5 Mariners players who could be the difference between success and failure in 2024

Mariners Difference Maker #5: Mitch Haniger

You could go with either corner outfield spot here, but I think there is a lot more variance in the numbers that we could see from Mitch Haniger this year as opposed or compared to Luke Raley.

It starts with health. An injured Haniger could easily snowball into missing 100+ games, leaving a big hole in RF that has to be filled with an option that doesn't look great as it stands. They could go with Canzone, and he is the likely first call, but the offense definitely needs to improve, although his underlying numbers do look to have success on the way.

If the Mariners can get good Haniger, thats a huge win. I'm not talking about the 6+ WAR season that he had for the Mariners, but more in line with the 3+ WAR season he had in 2021. Can Haniger play 135 games and hit 25 homers? If he does, thats a big win for the Mariners, and he will likely end up with a bigger impact than what Teoscar Hernandez had last season. If not, it's a wasted roster spot. The gap in ceiling and floor really is that big.