How are members of the 2023 Mariners doing on their new teams?
Let's check in on some former Mariners who were with the team in 2023, but have moved on to new locations for the 2024 season
The 2024 Mariners have been a very frustrating team to watch. A team that put so much focus this offseason into cutting out strikeouts and finding higher-contact players is failing miserably in that category. The Mariners currently sit with the fourth most strikeouts in baseball and are T-7th for fewest runs scored.
The Mariners are currently 12-11 and are first in the AL West division. The fact that this team is now in first place in the division despite the performances of the struggling offense holding back a historical pitching run should be seen as a positive. This team has too much talent to be a borderline .500 team.
With all of the roster turnover and new starters in five of the nine offensive positions, there were bound to be some hits and some misses. With all of the departures, there are also expected to be some players that the team will certainly regret letting go of, and others they will be happy are gone. Today we take a look at the Mariners from the 2023 roster and how they are performing in the 2024 season.
Eugenio Suarez
Perhaps the most surprising departure from the Mariners' 2023 roster was the Gold Glove level third baseman. The Mariners placed an emphasis on reducing strikeouts and Suarez became a casualty of that focus. So far in 2024, Suarez has hit in the middle of the Diamondbacks lineup, but his regression seems like it is continuing. He is slashing .244/.320/.367 with two home runs. Though his strikeout rate is down to 25.5%, he just hasn't been able to bounce back like a lot of Mariners fans thought he would.
Marco Gonazlez
Where Geno was the most surprising, losing Marco may be the most painful, both from the roster construction and a sentimental standpoint. Marco was the heart of a team that went through some struggles, and he has been just a great person to root for. Marco has been really solid for the Pirates, throwing 17 innings, with an impressive 2.65 ERA. His peripheral numbers (5.8 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9) won't wow you, but that is how Marco has always done it. This hurts, but I am happy Marco has found success again with the Pirates.
Teoscar Hernandez
The big bat that the Mariners acquired last offseason was a big disappointment for the Mariners. He was slightly above average with a 105 wRC+, leading the Mariners to decline to offer him the qualifying offer. He then signed a deal with the Dodgers and, surprise surprise, he is raking! In 25 games he is slashing .258/.337/.462 with five home runs. His hideous strikeout rate continues, at 34%, but he has put up a 122 OPS+. This is about what Mariners fans expected to happen.
Jose Caballero
The spark plug of the 2023 team, Caballero found himself without a roster spot heading into the 2024 season. It seemed like a great trade for the Mariners when they sent him to Tampa Bay for Luke Raley, and it still very well could be. However, Caballero has been really solid filling in at shortstop for the Rays. In 22 games, Caballero is hitting .269/.301/.436 with two home runs and eight stolen bases. Caballero has been a very solid player, someone the Mariners would probably like to have, but they just don't have a spot for him. Good thing Luke Rayley has been getting a ton of time for the Mariners... (that was sarcasm as he has just 36 plate appearances).
Mike Ford
A great story of the 2023 team, Mike Ford carried this offense at times. Ford gave them some stability at a DH position that has been a huge void. The Mariners wanted to upgrade that even further, with the signing of Mitch Garver. Ford signed a minor league deal with the Reds and has been destroying Triple-A. He is slashing .292/.366/.583 with six home runs in 19 games. he has an impressive 11% walk rate and a 19.5% strikeout rate. The Reds have a very talented infield, and with their DH position struggling so far, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ford in the red and white very soon.
Chris Flexen
Flexen signed a one-year deal with the White Sox, a team that was reallly lacking starting pitching, especailly after trading Dylan Cease. Flexen has not been good this year. He has made five appearances, with three starts, throwing 19.2 innings with a whopping 6.41 ERA. The Mariners found lightning in a bottle when they brought Flexen over from the KBO, but he has yet to replicate that success.
Justin Topa
Topa was one of the best and most surprising relievers in the Mariners 2023 bullpen. Topa was included in the deal that netted the Mariners Jorge Polanco. He was a key departure for this team that has built its success on a very good bullpen. Unfortunately, Topa has yet to pitch with the Twins. He was placed on the 15-day injured list before the season started, with left patellar tendinitis. Hopefully we get to see Topa soon, he was a very solid reliever and a great story.
Jarred Kelenic
One of the most controversial players in recent Mariners history, Kelenic was traded to the Braves in a salary dump. Kelenic seems to have tinkered with his swing yet again, and the early season success (much like 2024) has been on display this year as well. We all knew that Kelenic would take off when he went somewhere else, and he has. He is slashing .319/.396/.383. On the surface, it's great, but he hasn't hit a home run, has a strikeout rate near 31%, and is hitting just .143/.250/.143 over his last 10 games. Kelenic was very polarizing (good and bad) in his time with the Mariners, but I don't think this is a move that they will regret.
Paul Sewald
One of the most beloved players in this era of Mariners baseball, was involved in one of the most talked about trades this offseason. Sewald was instrumental in taking the Diamondbacks to the World Series. Like Topa, he has yet to throw in the 2024 season. Before the year could start, Sewald was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain. Luckily for D-Backs and baseball fans, Sewald was sent out on a rehab assignment on April 23rd, so hopefully we will get to see him soon.
Isaiah Campbell
In what was a head-scratching move for the Mariners, they sent the promising reliever to the Red Sox for Luis Urias. Campbell showed some solid stuff last year but has really struggled to find that same success. He has made seven appearances, putting up a 12.79 ERA. He was just hit really hard, giving up two home runs and 11 hits in just 6.1 innings. Unfortunately, Campbell was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. Campbell will be out for at least two weeks but could miss even further.
Tom Murphy
One of the most iconic Mariners from the recent teams, Murphy is a very exciting player. He continuously showed a lot of promise as a potential All-Star level catcher; Murphy just couldn't ever stay healthy. Murphy signed with the Giants this offseason and so far, he just hasn't been able to get going. He has only played in 10 games, slashing just .074/.194/.111 with 11 strikeouts in 31 plate appearances. Murphy has struggled, but we know that he has all sorts of talent, if he can just stay healthy. Even if "Murph" is struggling, at least we know that he is bringing his same vibrant and exciting attitude to that Giants' clubhouse.