Ranking the five best acquisitions the Mariners have made so far this off-season

Dealing with the difficult circumstances of a smaller budget and less money to make big additions to the roster, Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander have had to get creative with their Front Office decisions. They ended up trading away Jarred Kelenic, Eugenio Suarez, Robbie Ray, Marco Gonzales, and Evan White, while also letting Teoscar Hernandez go in free agency after one year in Seattle.

Those subtractions cleared a ton of money off the Mariners payroll, making room for a potentially big acquisition in the future. While also saving the franchise money while they figure out issues with their Regional Sports Network (RSN). Fans have every reason to gripe about these decisions and why they had to be made. However, despite the acrimony surrounding the moves, the front office is aiming to do the best with "the cards they were dealt".

The Mariners missed out on the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes and were not even in the discussion for a Juan Soto trade. These two high-profile off-season targets were acquired by the Yankees and Dodgers (two big market teams). However, like most of the teams who are dealing with RSN issues (and there are many this off-season), the M's are doing what they can to improve the roster.

One of the main goals for the Mariners front office this off-season was to cut down on the number of strikeouts the team had in 2023. By letting go of Jarred Kelenic, Eugenio Suarez, and Teoscar Hernandez the Mariners trimmed 557 strikeouts from their roster. The Mariners had the second-most strikeouts of any team in baseball with 1603 strikeouts in 2023. After these cuts to the roster, the Mariners lineup should have fewer punchouts in 2024 than they did in 2023.

Cutting down on strikeouts was just one of many goals the Mariners front office wanted to accomplish this off-season. With the moves they made this off-season, they have not only checked off that goal but have also found intriguing pieces which will set them up well for 2024 and beyond. Here is a look at the five best acquisitions the Mariners have made so far this off-season:

#5 3B Luis Urias

The Mariners made a deal early this off-season that flew under the radar at the time. Acquiring Luis Urias from the Red Sox in exchange for RHP Isaiah Campbell. If the season started tomorrow, in all likelihood the Mariners would start Urias at third base on opening day. Tyler Locklear is certainly another possible option there, but probably will not be ready to start game one. Locklear has also been playing more at first base in the minors and needs additional reps at third to make that positional switch.

Before 2023, Urias had been a solid player for the Milwaukee Brewers who had played all over the infield. In 2023, Urias suffered a series of injuries during the 2023 season which clearly affected his play on the field. His career slash line is .234/.333/.385, and in 2023 Urias suffered career lows in each of those statistical categories (batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage).

Hopefully, a healthy off-season will help Urias have a more productive 2024. Having primarily played third base throughout his career, he should not have any problem playing the position. The Mariners are counting on Urias' defensive acumen at the position, as Urias has shone he has the range to cover the position, with 11 defensive runs saved while playing at third base for his career.

#4 RHP Anthony DeSclafani

Anthony DeSclafani is a veteran starting pitcher who can work as a fill-in starter or long reliever for the M's. The Mariners rotation is likely set with Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo. DeSclafani is a nice depth piece who can make a spot start if one of these pitchers gets hurt or has a bad day on the mound. The Mariners could have used an arm like this last season, as they did not have a long relief option as they did in previous seasons. With the acquisition of DeSclafani the Mariners now have a new Chris Flexen/Matt Boyd type relief option in their bullpen.

For his career, DeSclafani has a 4.20 ERA in nine seasons. In 2023, DeSclafani had a 4.88 ERA and made 18 starts as a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Last season, DeSclafani started strong with a great first month in which he went (2-1) with a 2.70 ERA. His numbers dropped off after that, as he went (2-3) with a 4.10 ERA in May, was (0-3) with a 6.65 ERA in June, and (0-1) with a 10.61 ERA in two starts for the month of July. Serving in a smaller role as a fill-in starter and long reliever could be good for DeSclafani, as his durability has been an issue the past two seasons.

#3 OF Mitch Haniger

Not only did the Mariners get Anthony DeSclafani from the Giants as part of the deal which sent Robbie Ray to San Francisco, but they also were able to bring back fan favorite OF Mitch Haniger. Haniger did not end up playing much in 2023 after signing a three-year deal with the Giants for $43.5 million. He hit .209, with 8 HR, and 28 RBI in 61 games for the Giants in 2023. Haniger never really was able to get a fresh start in San Francisco after suffering an oblique strain in Spring Training. He then suffered a fractured forearm mid-season which sidelined him for two months.

Mitch Haniger has had bad luck with injuries in the past, but if he can stay healthy, the Mariners know he can be a productive bat. He should expect to slot in as a platoon outfielder who can fill in for one of the Mariners many left-handed outfield bats. Haniger can also play DH if necessary when Mitch Garver is playing catcher. In his time in Seattle, Haniger hit .263, with a .817 OPS, 107 HR, and 306 RBI in five seasons for the Mariners. Haniger helped the Mariners end their playoff drought back in 2022. Now that Haniger is back in Seattle, he has chance a to help the Mariners to a World Series.

#1 DH/C Mitch Garver

The best player the Mariners added this off-season so far is Mitch Garver. Garver came to the Mariners through free agency and gives the Mariners the DH they have been looking for. In 2023, Garver played for divisional rival Texas and helped the Rangers to a World Series title. He had a solid year offensively for the Rangers as he posted a .270 average, a .870 OPS, 19 HR, and 50 RBI. Health will be key for Garver in 2023, as he has struggled to play a full season throughout his career. The most games he has played in a single season was 102 for the Twins in the 2018 season.

Playing DH should help Garver stay healthy, as being a catcher has made him more prone to injuries throughout his career. He should expect to catch a small number games for the Mariners, who already have Cal Raleigh behind the plate. Not to mention the M's also added backup catcher Seby Zevala from the Arizona Diamondbacks this off-season. The Mariners are excited to see what Garver can do for their offense and worked hard to sign him to a 2yr/$24 million deal with an option for third year. Expect Garver to be an important part of the Mariners offense in 2024.