Seattle Mariners comprehensive 2021 team preview
2021 Seattle Mariner’s Everyday Lineup
The everyday lineup will evolve throughout the season. It would seem that Seattle Mariners Manager Scott Servais is of the same mindset that many Mariners fans are; that J.P. Crawford shouldn’t lead off (see ideal line-up article that addresses that). We are surprised by moving Mitch Haniger to lead-off, but then again, the Mariners do not have an ideal lead-off hitter, so having someone that can work a count does have ripple effect benefits. Here is the projected everyday line-up:
RF – Mitch Haniger
Mitch Haniger will also spend time at DH and take 1-2 off days per week until the Mariners confirm that he can play for multiple consecutive games. Especially coming off of significant time away from the game. He will work pitch counts, earn some walks, but also strike out a bit. He hits righties and lefties well, carrying a nearly identical career OPS (On-base plus slugging percentage).
2021 projections: 28 HRs, 10 SBs, .277 average, .841 OPS
2B – Dylan Moore
The hope is that Dylan Moore cuts down on his strikeouts (31.4% of at-bats in 2020) and increases his walk total (14) to be the ideal number two-hitter in the Mariners lineup. In 2020 flashed both power (8 HRs) and speed (12 SBs). Moore is a future 20/20+ hitter. It’s written all over his peripherals.
Despite batting from the right side, Moore much stronger against right-handed pitchers (.900 OPS) vs. lefties (.762 OPS).
2021 projections: 20 HRs, 31 SBs, .261 average, .808 OPS
CF – Kyle Lewis
Kyle Lewis is dealing with a bone bruise after colliding with the wall in left-centerfield last week. He won’t be available to start the season on the opening day roster but will be the everyday centerfielder this season after he returns. Starting a line-up with three straight right-handed hitters isn’t ideal.
Lewis hits righty pitchers really well (so does Moore). In his brief career, Lewis has hit righties 78 points better than lefties (.285 vs. .208). That is significant when you are building a line-up.
2021 projections: 31 HRs, 9 SBs, .258 average, .866 OPS.
3B – Kyle Seager
The first left-handed bat in the line-up will be Kyle Seager, who is coming off of one of his best seasons. Will he get to the 30 home run threshold, like in 2016? Kyle is playing for either the Mariners to exercise their 2022 team option or for free agency after the season.
Either way, he’s playing for his future, which means that 2021 has to be one of his best seasons ever. At 33-years-old, he has one major contract left in him at this point. Seager is also a lefty that hits southpaws well, especially as he gets older.
2021 Projections: 24 HRs, 3 SBs, .245 average, .776 OPS.
DH – Ty France
The soon-to-be 27-year-old is an early fan favorite. There are lots of reasons to get excited about Ty France. His bat plays at the Major League level, he has a fantastic attitude, and to start the season, he’ll be sandwiched between a veteran and a rookie.
France pounds right-handed pitchers to the tune of a career .787 OPS vs. .701 against left-handers. It’s easy to get over-hyped about him, but he does have a problem with strikeouts. Last season, France fanned at a 26.2 percent clip in 2020 and still hit .305. High strikeouts mean that he’s prone to good and bad streaks.
2021 Projections: 23 HRs, 2 SBs, .273 average, .782 OPS.
LF – Taylor Trammell
The great news is that Taylor Trammell did enough to start the season on the big league roster and likely as the opening day left fielder. What is really intriguing is that he will be under the microscope from day one of 2021.
Trammell could be a mere place-holder until Kelenic arrives. Or he could solidify himself as an everyday leftfielder as well. It’s up to him to become the latter.
The 23-year-old profiles as a 15/15+ offensive player with a high batting ceiling. But like many of his teammates, he also struggles with strikeouts. His spring training stats were great, though. Trammell hit for a .302 average and 1.016 OPS. Probably not sustainable, but great.
2021 Projections: 17 HRs, 21 SBs, .238 average, .737 OPS
Catcher – Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy will be the lead in a 55/45 split of catching duties along with Luis Torrens as the M’s organization awaits Cal Raleigh’s arrival (projected late 2022). The power-hitting catcher had a rough spring at the plate. He missed all of 2020 with a foot injury, and the rust appears to be securely affixed to his bat.
Offensive difficulties could change the split percentage between Murphy and Torrens. He’s a good defensive catcher, and many pitchers have mentioned how comfortable they feel with him behind the dish. If Murphy gets the bat going and any concerns will be moot.
2021 Projections: 19 HRs, 0 SBs, .255 average, .771 OPS
1B – Evan White
It’s easy to be encouraged by some of the changes we’ve seen in Evan White’s swing. He has shown a significant reduction in strikeouts, cutting them nearly in half (46.2 percent in 2020, 23.3 percent in spring training 2021). His spring numbers seem more in line with where he was in the minor leagues.
His bat still profiles as a major league bat, especially with the reduction in strikeouts, and anything north of .230, at this point, should be a big bonus for the Seattle Mariners. White turns 25 in April, and being out there for an entire season will benefit him. But understand that he’s out there to save runs and occasionally produce runs, not the other way around.
2021 Projections: 26 HRs, 4 SBs, .223 average, .658 OPS.
SS – J.P. Crawford
Crawford had a spring to forget about at the plate. He only mustered five hits, all singles. There were bright spots, though. Trammell also managed to accumulate eight walks, and while the move down the line-up seems to be a punishment for his batting performance, he’s taken it all in stride.
The Gold Glove-winning shortstop wouldn’t mind earning his way back to the top of the lineup, but an on-base machine at the bottom of the lineup carries benefits to turning the line-up over. He’s here for this defense, and saving runs for the pitching staff has its value.
2021 Projections: 10 HRs, 17 SBs, .238 average, .619 OPS.