2023 Seattle Mariners are in a good place, is it good enough?
M’s Offseason Moves
Last year, the Mariners went 90-72, which was fifth-best in the American League. More importantly, Seattle finished 16 games behind AL West rival Houston, and 9 games behind the New York Yankees.
Dipoto didn’t go on a free agent binge this winter. Other than AJ Pollock and Trevor Gott, there aren’t any “impact” signings.
On the trade front, Teoscar Hernandez, Cooper Hummel, and Kolten Wong were Seattle’s big acquisitions. Hernandez (RF) and Wong (2B) are starters from day one, replacing free agents Mitch Haniger and Adam Frazier. Meanwhile, Hummel will be a valuable utility player off manager Scott Servais’ bench.
What the Seattle Mariners organization is really banking on is the improvement of their young players. With a year of MLB experience under their belts, key players Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Matt Brash should all be better in 2023.
Jarred Kelenic, the once highly regarded prospect, regained some of his swagger this spring. Bringing in Pollock to platoon in left field with him should take some of the pressure off the 23-year-old’s shoulders.