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Three new Seattle Mariners to keep an eye on in Spring Training
With all the trades and transactions the Mariners made this off-season, here are three new Mariners to follow in Spring Training.
The Mariners were highly active this off-season, as they worked to strengthen their roster for 2024. Making trades with 30% of the teams in MLB, while also adding bullpen depth and offense in free agency. There are sure to be many new faces in Peoria, Arizona at the Mariners training facility
as players report for Spring Training.
Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander did a phenomenal job of improving the Mariners roster under the budget constraints they had to work with. Their trades and free agent decisions helped subtract strikeouts from the roster, which was a stated goal for Dipoto and Hollander this off-season. Gone are third baseman Eugenio Suarez, outfielder Jarred Kelenic, and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who struck out a combined 557 times (31.2%) in 2023.
The Mariners front office brought in third baseman Luis Urias, outfielder Luke Raley, and outfielder Mitch Haniger to replace those guys. Along with adding DH/C Mitch Garver in free agency and acquiring second baseman Jorge Polanco in a trade with the Twins. By shuffling the lineup this off-season, the Mariners hope to have more contact and less swing and miss in 2024.
How each of these new pieces fits into the Mariners lineup will be exciting to follow in Spring Training this year. Seattle is going to have a new designated hitter, second baseman, third baseman, and corner outfielder(s) in 2024. With all the moves that were made this off-season, Spring Training will help sort out the new Mariners lineup. Here are three new Mariners to watch in Spring Training.
New Mariner to watch #1: Third Baseman Luis Urias
Luis Urias came to the Mariners through a trade with the Red Sox as the Mariners sent relief pitcher Isaiah Campbell to Boston to complete the deal. The debate currently over who the starting third baseman for the Mariners will be on Opening Day is a good one. Seattle not only has Urias as a third base option, but they also have infielder Josh Rojas, who also can play third.
The Mariners have two choices at third base, and how they decide to use Luis Urias is going to be interesting. Will he be used just as platoon option who can play in place of Rojas against lefties, or is Urias going to make the majority of starts at third? Urias also has the ability to play second base and shortstop which means he can play all over the diamond.
Urias is a unique depth piece who can fill in wherever he is needed. How the Mariners play him in Spring Training will be fascinating. Urias has a good glove and can be used in critical situations late in games when the Mariners need defense. Urias has the chance to be a defensive specialist or the Mariners' next starting third baseman. How he plays in Spring Training could go a long way in determining Urias' future in Seattle.
New Mariner to watch #2 Outfielder Mitch Haniger
In a shocking move, the M's brought back a fan favorite in outfielder Mitch Haniger in a trade which sent starting pitcher Robbie Ray to San Francisco. His acquisition was important, as the Mariners' 2023 outfielder, Teoscar Hernandez, eventually signed with a new team (the LA Dodgers) in free agency. The Mariners needed to add a right handed hitting corner outfielder to replace Hernandez because their other options were mostly left handed hitters (with the exception of Jonatan Clase who has no major league at bats).
How much will Mitch Haniger play the outfield and which corner outfield spot will he occupy? Throughout his career in Seattle, Haniger mostly played right field, however, last year he started most of his games in left field for the Giants. The Mariners are also going to want to protect Mitch Haniger and keep him healthy by limiting the amount of games he plays in the outfield.
Mitch Garver was signed by the Mariners in free agency because the Mariners needed a DH at the time. Now that they also have Mitch Haniger, how will they divide the time each of them plays at DH? The Mariners are probably going to split the DH position between both Garver and Haniger, with Garver likely receiving the majority of the starts. Which means Haniger will often platoon with either Dominic Canzone or Luke Raley who are left handed corner outfielders.
New Mariner to watch #3 OF/1B Luke Raley
OF/1B Luke Raley was acquired by the Mariners in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for infielder Jose Caballero. The Mariners needed to add outfield and first base depth after the departures of OF Jarred Kelenic, OF Teoscar Hernandez, and 1B Mike Ford. Raley is another intriguing piece the Mariners added this off-season because he is a multi-versatile player who can play in the infield and the outfield.
While Raley is likely to play one of the corner outfield positions, right field is probably where he will play given he played 35 games for the Rays at that position in 2023. He split time between right and left field, along with first base, but right field was where Raley started the most. Though outfield is where Raley is expected to play, his position flexibility also provides depth at first base.
The Mariners are hoping Raley provides them with power after departures from Teoscar Hernandez and Eugenio Suarez. Raley slugged .490 last season, with 19 HR, and 45 total extra base hits in 118 games. Raley will want to return to his first half form from last season where he posted a .925 OPS. He has been known to hammer right handed pitching in his career, with a .456 slugging percentage against right handed starters. Raley's power should be on full display in Spring Training.