Dylan Moore, Seattle Mariners.
In 2020, the Seattle Mariners won 90 games, finishing just two games out of the final American League Wild Card spot. There was very little roster turnover in the offseason. That means almost everyone will be back.
The biggest two losses off of last season’s team are starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who signed as a free agent with Toronto, and third baseman Kyle Seager (retired). Mariners’ General Manager Jerry Dipoto has already replaced the duo. Out of 26 jobs on the Major League roster, 23 are taken.
That leaves three open spots. There will be a battle royal in spring training to break camp with the team for opening day. Let’s take a look at the players fighting for
1 Almost everyone is healthy. Injuries happen, but we don’t know who, when, or for how long. For the purposes of this article, everyone on the 40 man roster, with one exception, Evan White, is able to compete. White might be ready to go, but he’s got a ticket to Triple-A for some much-needed work on his hitting.
2 When “Trader” Jerry Dipoto makes his next deal is anybody guess. This is the 40-man roster the Seattle Mariners go through Spring Training with.
3. Per the collective bargaining agreement, MLB teams can’t carry more than 13 pitchers. So the M’s roster will have 13 position players and 13 pitchers.
After this week’s trade with Cincinnati, there are 12 obvious locks among the position payers:
Dylan Moore was really good in 2020 but equally bad last season, batting .180 with a .610 OBP. So why is he likely to make the team? First, he’s the super-utility player Seattle Mariners Manager Scott Servais loves on his roster. There are a few other reasons why Moore has an advantage to make the team over his competition.
He led the team in stolen bases the last two seasons. Crawford, Moore, and Donovan Walton are the only players on the 40-man roster that play shortstop, and Walton hasn’t done much to earn a Major League job.
Although he may be the favorite because of his versatility, Moore isn’t a slam dunk.
In addition to Walton, Taylor Trammell, Kevin Padlo, and phenom Julio Rodriguez have a shot at unseating Moore. Non-roster invitee, utility man Sam Haggerty should probably be on that list as well.
Rodriguez is the Seattle Mariners’ next big thing. In the first spring game, Friday, J-Rod hit one that hasn’t landed yet. Unless he has an unbelievable spring, the M’s would be wise to get him some Triple-A seasoning.
Trammell and Padlo are running out of Major League chan; they could be in desperation mode. Because he’s not on the roster, don’t count out Haggerty. He’s just as versatile of a defensive player as Moore is and can switch hit.
The Mariners know who their top four starters are. Marco Gonzales, Chris Flexen, and Logan Gilbert return from last year’s rotation. They are joined by Dipoto’s big free agent signing, Robbie Ray. Last season, Ray led the American League in starts, innings pitched, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP on his way to winning the A.L. Cy Young award.
In 2021, Seattle’s bullpen was the surprise of baseball. Almost all of them are coming back for this season.
Those six are joined by two fireballers returning from serious injuries:
Unfortunately, at least one of the eight won’t make the team. Only one of those relievers, Misiewicz, is left-handed. Additionally, Dipoto said he’s looking for a reliever the team can use as an occasional opener. None of the above fit the bill.
The GM is also looking for a front-to-middle of the rotation starter. High-end prospects Matt Brash and George Kirby have a chance to change Dipoto’s mind. Both have the raw tools to become top pitchers eventually but could use some refinement before making their respective Major League debuts.
There are two pitchers on the 40-man roster who are lefties, can start, relieve or open. Justus Sheffield and Nick Margevicius have been disappointments. Their career results have fallen short of expectations so far.
Joey Gerber and Yohan Ramirez have shown flashes of effectiveness but found it hard to stick with the team for extended periods. On the extended roster but long shots to head to Seattle on opening day are Juan Then and Wyatt Mills.
Who do you think wins the Seattle Mariners’ final three roster spots? Let us know in the comments section below.