Merry Mariner Christmas

This off-season the Seattle Mariners have received several new players to add onto the roster for the upcoming 2018 however we hope that they can add on a couple starting pitchers.

So far we are still waiting but we never know they could be in the stockings today or we might have to wait for a few days. They could be late being delivered in shipping as well.

At least the Mariners picked up first baseman Ryon Healy from the Oakland A’s and second baseman turned center fielder Dee Gordon from the Miami Marlins. They also signed relief pitcher Juan Nicasio to a two year contract. He is expecting to be a key to the Mariners setup man in the bullpen along with Nick Vincent and David Phelps. Nicasio and Vincent will likely pitch an inning while Phelps may go two innings. Nicasio will be able to close when Edwin Diaz will be unable to do so.

The Mariners have picked up a couple other hard throwers in Nick Rumbelow from the Yankees and Shawn Armstrong from the Indians. They will be competing with other relief pitchers like Danny Altavilla for remaining two spots in the bullpen. The Mariners are planning to go with eight relievers to start the season. They have left specialist Marc Rzepczynski and James Pazos returning. Pazos might be competing for that last spot as well if the Mariners aren’t sure to go with two or one left in the bullpen. The Mariners have two lefties that could consider being the long reliever if they don’t start in the rotation in Ariel Maranda and Marco Gonzales. According to general manager Jerry Dipoto the Mariners might go to a six man rotation later in the season so the long reliever could move into that spot. Of course this will depend on the performance of the five pitchers already expected to start and how much they will be used.

I expect that James Paxton and Mike Leake will both go long into the games. Pitching seven innings or at least one hundred pitches; this may go for Felix Hernandez as well. Whoever wins the fourth and fifth starter positions may go only five innings or six at the maximum. This will depend to whether the Mariners do pick up another starter as well.

Everything seems to fit far as the everyday lineup with Mike Zunino at catcher, Ryon Healy at first base, Robinson Cano at second, Kyle Seager at third and Jean Segura at shortstop. I see Zunino as a question mark whether he hits like he did early in the season or he is able to hit like he did in June and July. The outfield should be Ben Gamel in left, Dee Gordon in center and Mitch Haniger in right field. Guillermo Heredia may platoon with Gamel in left along with occasion in center and right. This will depend on his shoulder surgery he had at the end of the season.

I wish everyone in Mariner Land a Merry Christmas! Go M’s.