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Seattle Mariners

2012 – Finished fourth in AL West

Record: 75-87

In 2012 the Mariners won 75 games, an improvement of eight wins over the year before, but as is usually the case with Seattle, no one really knew whether the team was going backwards, forwards or simply stuck in decline. The Mariners’ lineup is extremely young and struggled to adapt to the major leagues, but it wasn’t exactly uneventful in Seattle with Felix Hernandez throwing a perfect game and stalwart Ichiro leaving the northwest for the New York Yankees.

This winter the Mariners have made one definite change in order to help the M’s offence – by moving the outfield fences in. While they also made attempts to bring in free agent Josh Hamilton from Texas and Justin Upton in a blockbuster with Arizona, they have instead traded for Kendrys Morales and Mike Morse while signing veteran free agents Raul Ibanez – who has been with Seattle before – and Jason Bay. Just prior to spring training the Mariners also extended Hernandez’s contract to 2019, while also making him the highest-paid pitcher ever, and the M’s are hopeful in a few seasons that their stacked farm pitching will come up to support Hernandez. With the Astros entering an already stacked AL West, at least the Mariners are playing with the knowledge that they won’t finish dead last. But will their winter changes have any real effect?

INCOMINGS

P Jeremy Bonderman, Kameron Loe, Jon Garland, Joe Saunders

IF Robert Andino, Mike Jacobs, Kendrys Morales

OF Raul Ibanez, Jason Bay, Michael Morse

C Ronny Paulino, Kelly Shoppach

OUTGOINGS

P George Sherrill, Kevin Milwood, Jason Vargas, Shawn Kelley

IF Munenori Kawasaki

OF Trayvon Robinson, Chone Figgins

C Miguel Olivo, John Jaso

Outfielders

Raul Ibanez figure to be backup outfielders but also DH for the team when Morales doesn’t, but it’s the addition of Michael Morse which will excite Seattle. Morse came over from the Nationals in a three-team trade which cost Seattle John Jaso, but even after an injury-plagued 2012, Morse still batted .291 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs. The year before Morse hit .303 with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs, so if he can stay healthy then the Mariners can expect those type of numbers again. Michael Saunders will play right and looked good in his first full season, batting .247 with 19 home runs, 57 RBIs, 31 triples and 21 stolen bases. He is a former Mariners top prospect and while that average will never be great, he has good pop and speed and will be a reliable outfielder. Ibanez played the role of Yankees playoff hero last year and at 40 years old it was quite unbelievable that he put up 19 home runs and 62 RBIs. He will be a key figure all around the team next year.

Infielders

First baseman Justin Smoak has done little more than hit home runs in Seattle but that is ok considering the Mariners’ offence has been almost non-existent recently. He is batting just .225 over his first two seasons with the M’s while averaging 17 home runs, 53 RBIs and 44 runs per season. Dustin Ackley mans second and is also batting under .230 (.226 in 2012). His 124 strikeouts and .622 OPS are poor while his 12 homers, 50 RBIs and 84 runs are good for a second baseman. Brendan Ryan is a very good defensive shortstop but his .194 average and 11 stolen bases perhaps ousts that in the other direction. His .555 OPS is as bad as you’ll find it around the league. Kyle Seager was the lone bright spot in this offence last year, batting .259 (again low) with 20 home runs, 86 RBI, 62 runs, 35 doubles and 13 stolen bases. His solid glove makes him a quality player.

Catchers

The M’s got Jesus Montero from the Yankees, a guy who had a promising rookie year in 2012. In 135 games, the 22-year-old batted .260 with 15 home runs and 62 RBI. He spent a lot of time at DH last year but with Morales and Ibanez, he will move into a full-time catcher role this season which should mean fewer at-bats. Kelly Shoppach will provide solid back-up.

Starters

Hernandez is one of the best pitchers in the game which is why the Mariners locked him up with a five-year, $135.5million extension. He hasn’t had an ERA higher than 3.47 since 2007 and has averaged 15 wins and a 2.81 ERA over the last four years. Hisashi Iwakuma is 31 years-old and had a solid year in 2012 (9-5, 3.16 ERA), splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. Erasmo Ramirez (59 IP, 3.36 ERA, 48 K) is a solid looking prospect who has a 41-17 record in five minor league seasons. Blake Beaven, Joe Saunders and Hector Noesi make up the rest of the staff (Beaven is 16-17 after his first 41 MLB starts) while Noesi struggled massively after his trade from the Yankees last year (2-12, 5.82 ERA).

Relievers

Tom Wilhelmsen took over as closer in 2012 and stepped up when Brandon League got hurt and then got traded to the Dodgers. In 73 appearances the former put up a 2.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP while saving 29 out of 34 games with 87 strikeouts. Carter Capps, Stephen Pryor and Lucas Luetge all looked reliable in their first full seasons, all posting ERA’s under 4.