Mariners offseason outlook: Mariners “aggressively” look to add infield bats, starters
A new free agent class arrives soon, and the Mariners want to open their checkbooks.
Last week, manager Scott Servais and President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto sat with reporters to discuss the offseason. A year earlier, Seattle’s offseason was described as quiet, adding little to their payroll with their eyes set a year ahead.
It was always the plan to wait until now, Dipoto said, but the Mariners are in an entirely different situation than they were roughly 12 months ago.
The front office wants to spend aggressively, team leaders said.
What’s on Seattle’s wish list? A starting pitcher, and an infield bat or two: that’s the priority for Dipoto as the Mariners embark on an offseason that alters the trajectory of the franchise.
“This was always our plan,” Dipoto told reporters Thursday. “To... provide our players with extended auditions, and give them (the) opportunity to gain experience. We thought we would start to turn a corner right about now.
“And I think we did achieve that goal, and now it’s incumbent on us to go add where we can add, and improve where we can improve.”
What is not the priority (unless, as always, the price is right) is an outfield bat. Mitch Haniger, Kyle Lewis (upon return from a torn meniscus), and Jarred Kelenic line up to be Seattle’s 2022 outfield, with top-ranked prospect Julio Rodriguez waiting in the wings.
And they’re not looking for a catcher, because they believe in the offensive potential of 24-year-old Cal Raleigh. Tom Murphy won’t hit free agency until 2024, and just “doesn’t get enough credit” for his work with the pitching staff, Servais said.
There’s an additional opportunity to be “creative” with the designated hitter spot, and Luis Torrens took advantage of his at-bats from mid-June on, hitting .266 and slugging .477 after a stint with Triple-A Tacoma.
Whether via free agency or trade, it’s an infield bat that the Mariners want. They’re not narrowing their sights to one position, because of the defensive versatility some players already on the club provide. Abraham Toro can work second or third base, if needed. Ty France can move between first and second, and Dylan Moore can play just about anywhere.
“I don’t think it’s just one big fish, so to speak,” Servais said regarding offseason additions. I think it’s a couple guys.”
SO WHAT WILL LOOK THE SAME?
“I don’t think we’re going to go fishing in the bullpen market this offseason,” Dipoto said. “And we were thrilled to have that kind of depth, and bring those guys back.”
Of Seattle’s bullpen, Joe Smith and Sean Doolittle represent the only departures. Led by a core that features Paul Sewald, Drew Steckenrider, Casey Sadler, and Diego Castillo — with more young arms on the way — the Mariners aren’t desperate for relief help, and they’ll look to invest elsewhere.
The Mariners ranked dead last in team batting average, but finished with a -51 run differential. Their 90-72 record featured a major-league best 33 one-run wins, primarily with the help of Servais’ bullpen and complementary managerial decisions.
A pair of lopsided losses in September — a nine-run loss in Houston on September 6 and a 13-run loss in Anaheim on September 25 — prevented Seattle’s run differential from getting “back to ground zero,” Dipoto said. And even though the team finished their last 95 games at 58-37, it was the late relief in one-run games that kept winning streaks and postseason hopes alive.
“I don’t think our record in one-run games is... lucky,” Dipoto said. “I think that was by design and it’s what we did well and our players earned that. That being said, I’d very much like next year to be in the green in run differential, and I’m sure Scott would, too.”
“You can only go with ‘fun differential’ for so long,” Servais said with a laugh. “You need a positive run differential.”
Dipoto added that he believes Seattle’s 2022 bench players “are already here,” meaning an acquisition via free agency or trade would net an everyday player.
“The fact that this (stadium) was electric for the final three days... this has to be a more appealing place to a major league free agent than it has been in many years,” Dipoto said. “And that’s going to help us a lot.”
Look for the Mariners to be aggressive in search of a starting pitcher, too.
BUT WHAT ABOUT PITCHING PROSPECTS?
If there was a season that taught Dipoto and the front office to prioritize an abundance of starting depth, it was 2021.
In just the second inning of his first start, James Paxton exited the game with a season-ending elbow injury, closing the very small book on his return from the Yankees. Starters Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn both missed multiple months with arm and shoulder injuries, and Nick Margevicius left a late-April start early in Boston with thoracic outlet syndrome, ending his season.
Dipoto insisted that the team doesn’t want to block pitching prospects from making the roster, though adding a starter provides insurance in the event someone goes down.
“We’re going to go out and we’re going to see if we can stabilize or add to our starting rotation,” Dipoto said. But when the (George) Kirbys and the (Brandon) Williamsons and the (Matt) Brashes are... ready for an opportunity, we’re going to give them an opportunity.
“And my guess is, we’re not going to run into a situation where you think, ‘boy, we just don’t have enough endings to give.’ Because that’s not how big league pitching works.”
WHERE DO SHEFFIELD AND DUNN FIT IN?
In Scott Servais’ eyes — and certainly in the eyes of Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn — both are still starting pitchers.
What’s yet to be discovered is their role in 2022. Both were relegated to bullpen duty earlier this year (though Dunn never returned to the big league club after a shoulder injury). There’s going to be competition for the five starting slots next season, Servais said. And that competition will make them better, he added.
Both will have opportunities to make the rotation. But it’s a possibility they’ll end up as relievers.
“They’re gonna have to be much more consistent, reliable, stay healthy, all those other things,” Servais said on Thursday. “But that’s how I see both those guys. ... Doesn’t mean they couldn’t end up in a bullpen, but that’s how I see it as we sit today.”
IS SEAGER COMING BACK?
The short answer: we don’t know. Dipoto said Thursday that the team has yet to make a decision on the looming team option over third baseman Kyle Seager, good for one year at $20 million.
What we do know is Dipoto’s deadline: five days after the conclusion of the World Series. That day also marks the deadline for a decision on Yusei Kikuchi’s four-year, $66 million team option. Dipoto wouldn’t say whether they will exercise that option, either.
If the Mariners were to decline Kikuchi’s deal, he’d have a chance to exercise a one-year, $13 million player option. For the 30-year-old to hit the open market, both parties would have to want to part ways.
We’re still a year out from outfielder Mitch Haniger reaching free agency, but with Dipoto’s history of swinging deals, Seattle’s general manager closed that door:
“Mitch will be back on the club, playing the same role he played this year and in years past when he’s been healthy,” Dipoto said. “Terrific season. … It was a gift to get the performance that we got out of Haniger.”
INJURY REPORT
It seems as though the Mariners are confident that 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis will be a full-go come spring training, but Dipoto wasn’t ready to confirm.
The short answer: it’s just too early to know how Lewis’ torn meniscus and recent rehab setback will respond throughout the offseason. Infielder Shed Long Jr., who continues to nurse a right shin injury, also fits in that category.
“He’s still seeking opinions on what’s going on with him,” Dipoto said of Long Jr. “But again, like we talked about with (Lewis) and with (Evan White), there’s not a lot we can talk about until we know and see him get back on the field.”
White elected for season-ending hip surgery in July, though his last 2021 appearance came in a May 13 game against Cleveland. That sprung Ty France into an everyday first baseman role, where he excelled, making only one error in over 900 innings at the position.
It’s not clear whether White will be ready in February, but Seattle seems more than comfortable leaving France at first, and it may be his job to lose.
“I thought (France) was the best first baseman in our league, from a defensive standpoint,” Dipoto said. “And from tip to tip, he was about as consistent a hitter as we have… he gives you a great professional bat, every time through.
“He’s going to be in our lineup. Where Evan White falls in is going to have to be determined.”
In the bullpen, Ken Giles continues his return from Tommy John surgery, and has begun throwing off a mound. Dipoto added that if the season was three weeks longer, fans would have seen Giles in uniform alongside Andres Munoz, who made his sole relief appearance in the season’s final game.