It's been over 17 years since the Seattle Mariners have been in the playoffs and now it's time the drought to end. The Mariners were only 7 games behind for the 2nd Wild Card which isn't bad but did end up 6 games under .500 having a 78-84 record in 2017. This offseason Jerry Dipoto went back to what he does best which is making trades. The Mariners in the offseason acquired transitioned CF Dee Gordon from the Marlins, 1st base slugger Ryon Healey from the A's, with also signing reliever Juan Nicasio and future Hall of Famer Ichiro. Dee Gordon and Ichiro were the headline acquisitions this offseason for the M's. Dee Gordon was a great pickup for the M's for not giving up their farm system and receiving a player that will bat .280-.300 with 40-60 bags a season. Dee is ready to rejuvenate his career in Seattle after leaving the Marlins collapse, and will be the starting CF for the M's who's already showing signs that the outfield was his natural calling from his Spring Training highlights. With the Mariners bringing back franchise face Ichiro this gives the M's depth, ticket boost, and veteran presence. Ichiro will be turning 45 this upcoming season coming off an off year batting .255 with 1 stolen base in 136. His new role for the M's will be to mentor the new outfielders and provide a solid bat in the OF and DH role. Ichiro will be a big help for outfielders Ben Gamel, Guillermo Heredia, Mitch Haniger, and Dee Gordon who's transitioning from 2B to CF. Ichiro coming back will also help bring back more fans to Safeco Field for Seattle missing one of their most iconic players in Mariners history. This reunion could put the spark that can push the Mariners over the hump for October. The positives the Mariners have is their lineup and defense while their negatives are their health and pitching. The M's definitely boosted their offense adding Gordon to the top of lineup with Jean Segura as a 1-2 punch. Ryon Healy is a good 1st basemen with power that showed promise in Oakland and can hopefully show more promise in Seattle. Nelson Cruz hasn't realized he's turning 40 soon with hitting close to or over 40 homers every season with the M's. Mike Zunino has looked great this Spring Training and hopes to prove the Mariners why picking him 3rd overall in the 2012 was the best decision they could've made. Kyle Seager is ready to bounce back from an upsetting 2017 but still hit 27 homers last year. This lineup could be a big threat to the Astros and Angles competing in the AL West. The biggest problem Seattle is facing is their pitching, farm system and health. For their health Segura was injured for a while last season, Felix Hernandez hasn't been 100% the past 2 seasons, we still haven't seen James Paxton start in over 25 games a season, David Phelps a key bullpen piece will be out for the year due to Tommy John Surgery, and their's not a lot of youth on this team so we could see more fatigue in Robinson Cano who's turning 36, Cruz 38, Ichiro 45, and more. For the problems that Seattle has, one of them is their farm system. They are ranked in the bottom 30 of the league with only 1 prospect in the Top 100 MLB Pipeline in OF Kyle Lewis (42). In time hopefully their farm system will get better with Dipoto making better calls for trades and draft picks, but for now the Mariners have to wait for awhile until another big name prospect will come there way or even trade away. With their pitching they heavily rely on the King and James Paxton to carry the rotation, but with them being sidelined with injuries everyone has to pick up their load. Mike Leake was a solid pick-up last season who went 3-1 with a 2.52 era for the M's, but you don't know if you're getting that Mike Leake or the Mike Leake that was traded from the Cardinals who never reached his expectations let enough was a league average pitcher during his time in St.Louis. Erasmo Ramirez and Marco Gonzales will be at the end of their rotation who are both in experienced and lack innings. Ramirez has been back and forth with the Mariners starting his career with them, getting traded to the Rays, and now coming back to M's. He is a solid arm out of the bullpen that can do long relief and is a good back up starter if needed. For him being slated as the determined 5th starter this could either hurt his performance or will stay the same depending on if his arm can hold on and if he can consistently go 6 strong with good location. For Marco Gonzales he could be a good surprise for the Mariners. For being drafted 19th overall in 2013 and being a highly touted prospect for the Cardinals. Gonzales now comes to the Mariners as the 4th starter in the rotation at the age of 26 hoping to restart his career. Gonzales is a crafty lefty that has good deception and a solid 3 mix arsenal. The problem he deals with is location and facing a lineup 2-3rd time around. If Gonzales can't go 5 innings or more a start then we could see Gonzales get sent back down to the minors being another 1st round bust. The rotation is another worry in Seattle's pitching. Edwin Diaz a great arm in the 9th with a fastball that can reach over 100mph and a devastating slider, but struggled last year finishing games when it was not a save opportunity. Diaz did improve at the end of the season posting a 1.86 era in September. Diaz is the least amount of worry to Seattle's bullpen with David Phelps now out for the season being their setup man and a lack of quality arms in the bullpen shows worry to if Diaz will even get the opportunity for a save. The bullpen is noticed as an easy part to improve on. Jerry Dipoto does a great job in always looking for new players to pick up he just needs to pickup 3-4 more arms bullpen and rotation wise to compete in the West the season. With an aging team that has a solid lineup, above league average defense, some key names in the rotation hoping to stay healthy. We can see the Mariners place 3rd in the AL West at best 2nd with winning a Wild Card spot depending on if the Angels reach their expectations and if Houston can repeat.There are a lot of what if's to the Mariners, but there are also a lot of what if's to what will happen in this season. Anything can happen in baseball and it could be the time for the Mariners to break their 17 year drought of no playoffs. With Robbie Cano holding the fort for the M's and Ichiro reading to guide his old team back to October. The Mariners will be an exciting team to watch in 2018.
|
|