PEORIA, Arizona - Coming off a 90-win season in 2022 which saw the Seattle Mariners snap a 20-year playoff drought, expectations were high that the club could take the next step in 2023.
Unfortunately, the Mariners regressed to 88 wins and missed out on a wildcard spot by a couple of games.
If Seattle is to return to the American League playoffs in 2024, theyB次元官网网址檒l have to do so with a roster thatB次元官网网址檚 seen some major changes.
The Mariners offense still revolves around superstar outfielder Julio Rodriguez, with first baseman Ty France, catcher Cal Raleigh and shortstop J.P. Crawford returning to provide support. But this team will definitely have a different look to it when it opens the season at T-Mobile Park versus the Boston Red Sox on March 28.
Three starters from last yearB次元官网网址檚 team B次元官网网址� third baseman Eugenio Saurez, outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Teoscar Hernandez B次元官网网址� are no longer with Seattle. TheyB次元官网网址檝e been replaced by the likes of infielders Jorge Polanco and Luis Urias, who were acquired from Minnesota and Boston respectively as well as outfielder Luke Raley, who comes over from Tampa Bay.
ThereB次元官网网址檚 also a familiar face returning in outfielder Mitch Haniger, who spent five years with the MB次元官网网址檚 from 2017 to 2022 before injuries derailed his career. Mitch Garver was also signed as a free agent from the World Series champion Texas Rangers and is expected to be the clubB次元官网网址檚 primary designated hitter.
The current roster configuration means more options on a daily basis for Mariners manager Scott Servais.
B次元官网网址淚 guess there could be. YouB次元官网网址檙e talking about three guys that were playing pretty much every day when they were healthy. WeB次元官网网址檒l have a little mixing and matching with Luke Raley and Dominic Calzone (in the outfield) when Mitch Haniger has days off,B次元官网网址� explained Servais, who is now in his ninth season guiding the MB次元官网网址檚 and is the second-longest tenured skipper in the league behind only Tampa BayB次元官网网址檚 Kevin Cash. B次元官网网址淎t third base, youB次元官网网址檙e looking more at a platoon type (situation) with Rojas and Urias. There could be more of that at those positions than weB次元官网网址檝e seen in the past. Then again, if you hit, you play. If youB次元官网网址檙e hot, youB次元官网网址檒l stay in the lineup.B次元官网网址�
While the Mariners might not have as set of a lineup as in previous seasons, Servais feels confident about his teamB次元官网网址檚 depth and their ability to produce.
B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檝e raised the floor with our bench guys. There isnB次元官网网址檛 such a steep drop-off from our starting group. When every game really matters and youB次元官网网址檙e in the heat of the battle, itB次元官网网址檚 really hard to give those starters a day off if thereB次元官网网址檚 a significant drop-off. I donB次元官网网址檛 think the drop-off is as significant as it has been in the past,B次元官网网址� Servais noted.
The strength of the ballclub is a starting rotation that is among the best in baseball with Luis Castillo, George Kirby and Logan Gilbert leading the way.
Youngsters Brian Woo and Bryce Miller round out the rotation and Servais is very excited about their upside.
B次元官网网址淏oth of those players are very young and improved a lot. Bryce Miller improved as much as any young pitcher IB次元官网网址檝e ever seen while heB次元官网网址檚 been in the big leagues. ThatB次元官网网址檚 really hard to do B次元官网网址� make adjustments on the fly at the highest level - and he was able to do it. Brian Woo is still making those adjustments with his secondary pitches but the upside with those two is really high. When itB次元官网网址檚 clicking and their secondary pitches are working, they can roll through any lineup in this league,B次元官网网址� said Servais.
The bullpen, which was very good last year, has some question marks heading into the season. Andres Munoz returns as the primary closer but a key piece in Matt Brash will begin the season on the injured list with an elbow issue. Jackson Kowar, a former top prospect with the Royals who was acquired from Atlanta in the Kelenic deal, was diagnosed with a torn UCL and will undergo Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile Gregory Santos, who popped last year with the Chicago White Sox, is dealing with a lat injury and his status for the season opener is in question.
With those injury concerns, the Mariners were forced to sign former Astro Ryne Stanek to a deal a couple of days ago and heB次元官网网址檒l join returnees Gabe Speier, Trent Thornton and Tayler Saucedo in the bullpen.
As for the recipe for success in 2024, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty simple according to Servais.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e built on pitching and defense and that will never change because thatB次元官网网址檚 how you win. Hopefully you add the right offensive pieces to be more consistent which I believe we have done,B次元官网网址� stated Servais.
EXTRA INNINGS
* Gone are the days of a sprinkling of Canadian players in organized baseball. The Cactus League in Arizona boasts a strong contingent of players from just British Columbia. The most notable is LadnerB次元官网网址檚 James Paxton, who is projected to be the third starter in the rotation for the Los Angeles Dodgers. AbbotsfordB次元官网网址檚 Cade Smith has had an impressive spring and is in the running for a spot in the Cleveland Guardians bullpen. Pitcher Carter Loewen B次元官网网址� another Abby product - is in camp with the San Diego Padres while pitcher Adam McKillican, a native of Comox, is looking to move up the Colorado Rockies minor league chain.
* Your agent was walking the backfields of the Mariners facility on the first day of workouts for all of the organizationB次元官网网址檚 minor league players and initiated a chat with one of their coaches on the logistics of the whole operation. Turns out the coach was Mariners Minor League Field Coordinator Louis Boyd, who played his minor baseball in North Vancouver. Boyd spent some time in the MB次元官网网址檚 organization as a player then got into managing. Boyd won a Northwest League title with Everett in 2021 which earned him a promotion to his current post. Boyd is based out of Tsawwassen but spends three weeks a month during the season visiting all of SeattleB次元官网网址檚 six farm teams. HeB次元官网网址檚 also responsible for the organizationB次元官网网址檚 roving minor league instructors and their monthly assignments.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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