Mariners Core Group

We all pretty know who the four key players are for the Seattle Mariners this season. They are King Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, and Kyle Seager. Also, they are the four highest paid players as well.

King Felix and Nelson Cruz both have had really great seasons. Felix has a real chance to win twenty games although he may have to win the remaining games he pitches in. Even if he doesn’t it will be still a really good season for him. We have sort of expected it out of Felix every year. Right now he is into his prime; however, the amount of innings he has pitched we could see a season he falls back. It would be nice if it happened in a season where the Mariners could make the playoffs. I know that sounds funny or weird but for Felix a down year could be better than most pitchers good years. The most important thing would be that he was ready to pitch in the playoffs. Nelson Cruz on the other hand had another great season. I don’t think any of us expected him to play as well as he did last year. He has done better than we could have imagined hitting over forty home runs for second straight season. I don’t think we could expect that again next season; however, if other players step up the Mariners could be better than this year. What I like most about Cruz though he looks like such a good teammate and he always smiles.

Robinson Cano we all know that he had a very poor first half of the season; however, he has bounced back the second half. Most likely it was because of injuries that he performed so poorly. We can hope next season he can have a good full season. It doesn’t have to be up to par for what his career has been but if he hit around .280 and drove in about 80 runs I think it would be good enough if other players pick up their performance.

Kyle Seager who I now nicknamed Kyle has style Seager also had a poor first half season as well. Not as bad as Cano’s but we all know he could have done better. The second half of the season he has stepped up to make the season we always expect out of him. Like Felix we starting to expect that he will have a good year every year, and at his age he could get better. He isn’t yet to his prime either.

What I really like is the change of the order in which Lloyd changed the three guys now putting Seager batting second followed by Cruz and Cano. The team has been hitting more productive since the change happened. Now we can only hope other players will step up as well.

Going into next season I hope that Mark Trumbo can become part of the core group as well. The Mariners should look to play him mostly at first base with some time at designated him and only a little time in the outfield. I would only like to see him play the outfield when Cruz is designated hitter.

Of course, the bullpen would be the group of guys that could take could step up and be much better than they have been most of this season. Losing Charlie Furbush made things really tough for the Mariners. When he went out for the season was the time the bullpen started struggling. It will be hard to know when he will return but likely won’t be at the beginning of the season. I would not be surprised if he does not return until after the all-star break.

The starting pitching I expect would be the same or better next year. TaiJuan Walker after a full season in the majors should be even better next season. He was inconsistent especially in the first half however he has done a really good job after the all-star break. I would think the start of April he should be in same form. Iwakuma should be back though he is eligible to be a free agent. We can hope that Elias will have a better season and that James Paxton would rebound that he could be healthy when the season starts. It sounds like a very solid starting five; however, the Mariners should go out and get another veteran pitcher who at the very least spot start. Also, they have Numo who could spot start; however, he would be better to come out of the bullpen as one of the left handed relievers.

With a view changes in the lineup I think the Mariners should have a better season next year. I can’t see some of the players having down seasons again. The catching position could be one that the Mariners could upgrade at. The Mariners should bring in a veteran to compete with Zunino. Currently all three possible back up catchers all hit right handed and none of them seem ready to hit in the major leagues. The Mariners should look at getting a left handed hitting catcher who could relieve Zunino or play ahead of him. Both could spend some time at designated hitter as well. Also, it would be nice to have the left handed catcher who could play occasional first base. It will be interesting off season indeed beginning with the hiring of the new general manager. Go Mariners!

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