Seattle Mariners 2022 Projections featuring The Art of WAR
Help from the outside
If Seattle acquires a pitcher like Zack Greinke (3+ projected WAR for 2022) and promotes J-Rod to the outfield out of spring training (3+ projected WAR in 2022). That gets them to around 35 combined WAR.
Next up is adding a third baseman. Toro doesn’t project as a 2+ WAR, which leaves him in the category of substitute or utility players. Among the free agents left Kris Bryant projects to be a 3+ WAR, Carlos Correa projects to be a 5+ WAR, and Trevor Story projects to be a 2+ WAR.
Acquiring Kris Bryant should be the top priority. He’s the only one that actually plays third base and is a big upgrade over Toro. If that doesn’t work, Dipoto has to figure out how to acquire Story and move Frazier to the hot corner. Trevor Story’s value at second base is much stronger than it is at third base.
Adding Correa is risky because Crawford has already been guaranteed the shortstop job for 2022. One of the two would be out of position at third. The impact of adding Correa puts the Mariners in a nearly 40 accumulative WAR. Teams that do that are usually considered “good.” Last year, the Blue Jays were the only team with a 40+ WAR that didn’t make the playoffs.
Don’t forget the closer
Unless Ken Giles reverts to his pre-Tommy John self after missing almost two seasons, the Seattle Mariners need a closer. That task will be near impossible without making some trades. That’s always a possibility with Trader Jerry, and closers usually don’t command a lot in return. That is unless they are Heathcliff Slocum and the M’s trade away someone who became one of the greatest catchers in Red Sox history (Jason Varitek) and an underrated story in Derek Lowe.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. We followed the Rabbit Hole and ironically came to the same conclusion that everyone has said all along, the M’s are okay, maybe above mediocre right now. However, they still need another impact arm and a third baseman. Call up J-Rod, and find a closer. Once that’s done, the Mariners could project as a 90 win team, which has never happened during the fWAR era (Since 2014).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_VVeiodus8
Joe Swenson loves baseball and statistics, and that’s pretty much all you need to know about him. But if you must know more, check out www.joeswensonauthor.weebly.com.