Looking at the Mariners Going into 2016

Though I am a member of the 12^th man and I like college basketball as well my favorite sport is baseball and the Seattle Mariners my favorite team. Though I have written some about the Seahawks this season and going into the playoffs I will look more at the Mariners going into spring training and the 2016.

If you are a Mariners fan you see that new general manager Jerry Dipoto has made a lot of changed during the off-season and many of the players that were on the roster at the end of the 2015 are no longer there. The Mariners still have the core group of Felix Hernandez, Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano, and Kyle Seager along with a few other players like TaiJuan Walker, Iwakuma, Gutierrez, Seth Smith and Charlie Furbush.

During the off-season the Mariners have upgraded the bullpen at least we think they have. We will only know when the season is underway. Charlie Furbush is the only one returning who was on the 2014 season. The Mariners have a few others who ended the 2015 season but many of the bullpen is new either acquired in trades or free agency.

The Seattle Mariners acquired Adam Lind a power hitting first baseman from the Milwaukee Brewers while they traded away Logan Morrison to the Tampa Bay Rays and Mark Trumbo to the Baltimore Orioles. Though I like both Morrison and Trumbo I expected either or both being traded. Lind brings to the Mariners home run power from the left side; since Safeco Field is friendly to lefties he should have a good season for the Mariners.  The thing about Lind though is that he does not well against left handed pitching. I am sure he will face some lefties however the Mariners are looking at using someone else to start at first base against lefties. At this point the choice is Jesus Montero however he needs to do a better job hitting breaking pitches. If he does not make the team and is traded because he is out of options the Mariners will have to look elsewhere for right handed hitting from first base.

The Mariners also acquired a catcher in Steve Clevenger in the trade for Mark Trumbo along with signing Chris Iannetta as a free agent. Iannetta played last year with the Los Angeles Angels; though he had an off year Dipoto figures he will rebound this year just like several of the other players he acquired during the off-season. Mike Zunino who had a very poor season last season in his second year in the major leagues may start the season at triple-A even if he does well during training camp. This may depend on Clevenger or Jesus Sucre being the backup to Iannetta. Clevenger is a left handed hitter so he will likely catch against some tough right handers along with playing some first base and possibly DH.

In the outfield Seth Smith and Franklin Gutierrez will likely platoon in right field while new acquired free agent Nori Aoki will play in left field and Leonys Martin acquired from the Texas Rangers will occupy center field. Also Nelson Cruz will play some in right field when he is not DHing. A number of players will DH when Cruz is playing right field. How much Cruz plays in the field will depend on his health.

I look forward to sharing more about the Mariners going into spring training well as the regular season. Go Mariners!