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SEATTLE – If it seems like each of the last two or three offseasons has ranked among the most crucial in recent memory for the Mariners, consider that this winter they firmly believe they are in a World Series window, which they are coming off a season in which they failed to meet playoff expectations and are facing unforeseen budgetary constraints entering the offseason.
This makes this player acquisition period, in many ways, vital.
“I think we have a good team,” president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said during the winter meetings. “We have a great young core. We have a great pitching staff. Our starting rotation is as good as anyone in the league. We have a very good bullpen, especially in the backfield.
But there are still notable gaps that the club must address before the pitchers and catchers report in mid-February.
“In the middle, our offensive team is exceptionally good,” Dipoto said. “In the corners we weakened a little. And that’s the area that we anticipated we would need to address and we continue to understand that that’s the area we would need to address.
With the new year fast approaching and resolutions being made, here’s a look at where the Mariners are:
The biggest question to answer before spring training
What will the programming look like?
The Mariners took a subtract-then-add approach with their position player staff this offseason, freeing up more than $30 million in payroll by trading away well-known players Jarred Kelenic, Eugenio Suárez, Marco Gonzales and Evan White. And although Dipoto indicated during the winter meetings that the Mariners are moving into the “add” phase, they have yet to fill the holes they created. They still have at least one big move in them, if not more, but for a front office that typically surges early each offseason, this one has moved unusually slowly.
A player ready to have an exceptional season
Outfielder Dominic Canzone
After career years in 2023, JP Crawford and Cal Raleigh have had their breakthroughs. The same could be said for Logan Gilbert and George Kirby on the mound. They have established themselves among the best starting pitchers in the American League. Canzone, the Transaction Deadline The acquisition in the Paul Sewald deal certainly falls more under the radar. But he showed great power as a rookie last year, he collected at every stage of the minors and will see more playing time now that Kelenic is gone.
Prospect to watch in 2024
Shortstop Felnin Celesten
Infielder Cole Young and catcher Harry Ford are at the top of the team MLB Pipeline Rankings but are still a little far from the Majors. Infielders Tyler Locklear and Ryan Bliss could debut as early as 2024. But Celesten is arguably Seattle’s most intriguing prospect heading into next season. A few months after signing with Seattle as the No. 2 prospect in last offseason’s international class, a Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered in early June kept him from playing in the Dominican Summer League. Many people will be eager to watch it in full this year.
A prediction for the new year
Julio Rodríguez is making a serious run at the AL MVP Award.
The most notable blockade was lifted after Shohei Ohtani left for the Dodgers and the National League, widening the field of suitors. And with Rodríguez ready to take another big step forward in 2024, and with even more of the spotlight on him to lead the Mariners’ offense following the departures of key contributors Suárez, Kelenic and Teoscar Hernández, Year 3 appears to be one in which Rodríguez could achieve lasting success for the marathon of 162 matches. .
