Position Players on 40-man roster of the Mariners

Catchers

David Freitas: began the season with the Mariners because of injury to Zunino. Was sent down for a period of time when injuries happened to Herrmann as well. Had a good batting average in triple A but didn’t translate to the majors. He batted on .215 with 1 home run and 5 rbi’s in 36 games. Likely will compete for backup catcher in spring training. Not sure he will make the team especially if the Mariners pick up another catcher.

Chris Herrmann: I think he is the perfect catcher especially batting left handed. He can play first base and the outfield if necessary but the Mariners didn’t use him in either spot. Problem with allowing only 25 man roster no place to carry three catchers. I wish the major leagues would expand the rosters to 28 this way could use an additional catcher along with outfielder or infielder and relief pitcher. He didn’t have a great batting average but better than the other two. He batted .237 in 36 games with two home runs and seven rbi’s. I hope his defense can improve so Mariners will use him more behind the plate.

Mike Zunino: we all know he is an all-star capable catcher behind the plate but his batting average was subpar once again. The Mariners need to get more out of him on the offensive side of the ball. I think 2019 will be important season for Zunino. Being able to hit home runs with 20 is good however only drove in 44 runs with a batting average of .201. He isn’t able to hit the off-speed pitches and can’t hit fastballs somes either. He struck out 150 times on the season.

Infielders

Gordon Beckham: a veteran infielder who spent much of the season at Tacoma except when Gordon was hurt and then call up at the end of the season. He showed not to be a very good shortstop either. His best positions are second and third base. Mariners need upgrade far as utility player goes. He batted .182 in 22 games driving in one run. May not be in spring training with the Mariners.

Robinson Cano: had a productive season when he played. He was injured fracturing his right arm in May then suspended for 80 games failing the major league drug policy. In 80 games he batted .303 with 10 home runs with 50 rbi’s. Pretty good for a half season for sure. This coming season the question will be how much playing second base or spend more time at first base and designated hitter. The question will be answered when general manager Jerry Dipoto and manager Scott Servais let’s us know. He would like to play second regular but it depends what they want to do with Dee Gordon as well. See if he returns to center field on a regular basis or at second base where he is better defensively. This will depend to whether the Mariners will pick up a center fielder as well. The story will continue.

Dee Gordon: He spent the first month and a half or so playing center field but when Cano was injured then suspended moved back to his previous position of second base. He showed to be a very good defensive second base. In May he broke his toe and spent some time on the disabled list. Never was the same at hitting the rest of the year. In August the Mariners moved him to the bottom of the batting order hitting ninth most of the time. Mitch Haniger was inserted as the lead off hitter and he batted around .333 the rest of the season. The Mariners right now figure he will be lead-off hitter going into spring training. We are hoping Dee Gordon can have a healthy 2019. Should help the bottom of the order next season with his speed allowing Haniger along with Jean Segura to drive in runs. News will come further whether he will play primarily at second base or center field. His versatility would allow him to play short when Segura needs a day off himself.

Ryon Healy: had a solid season at the plate though his batting average was lower than he or the team would have liked. He did show his power again like in his rookie season with the A’s. In 2018 he had 24 home runs and 73 rbi’s. Right now the question is how much will he play at first base. He did show himself a good defensive first baseman which came into question when spring training began. Where Robinson Cano plays and whether the Mariners re-sign designated hitter Nelson Cruz will answer it all. If Cruz comes back and Cano will play a lot of first base the Mariners could trade Healy to bring back a pitcher or someone else needed to bolster the roster. Whatever the case like having Healy around.

Kristopher Negron: he spent most of the season at Reno the triple A team of the Arizona Diamondbacks however impressed the Mariners enough to purchase him from them at the end of the trading deadline. He played in 18 games in September for the Mariners. Though his offense numbers weren’t great he did show the Mariners his versatility he could be the Mariners utility player in 2019. This would depend whether the Mariners can pick up another player for the role or if they really need a utility player since Dee Gordon and Robinson Cano may play more than one position next season. Since the Mariners will likely go with 13 pitchers having 12 position players including two catchers the Mariners will need a stronger bench then they had in 2018.

Andrew Romine: he was the primary utility player for the Mariners. I have to believe he was the weak link to the Mariners bench. He didn’t play very much and didn’t have a good batting average or produce when he did play. He played in only 72 games batting .210 and drove in two runs. He will be a free agent so I don’t expect the Mariners will re-sign him. I don’t see him invited to camp or make the team. He would have to do a big turnaround for sure.

Kyle Seager: though the Mariners didn’t make the playoffs despite winning 89 games; they did it with Seager having an off year. You can blame it on a sore toe but he was having a bad year before then. Usually he hits better in the second half but that didn’t happen this time. For the Mariners to have a good season next season they need to have Seager to bounce back. We hope the Mariner bench will be better where Seager need some time off they will be able to allow him to even if he doesn’t want the time off. Now he is making a lot of money in the $19 million there is more scrutiny as well. I like Kyle so I am rooting for his recovery.

Jean Segura: had a great first half being named to the all-star team. Should have been named the MVP of the all-star game because of his home run. The second half he was OK but wasn’t noticed that much since the offense of the team went dead. His stats were almost identical of 2017. I am not sure what happened between him and Dee Gordon in an argument however I hope he will be a team player next year. The Mariners need to have the best of him if they have any chance to make the playoffs.

Daniel Vogelbach: spent most of last season in Tacoma where he was MVP. He showed his power even when he was with the Mariners. His defense at first base is not even average so he would be best at dh. Probably doesn’t have a spot on the Mariners so I hope they  trade him to another American League team.

Outfield: Had some turmoil during the season with Gamel and Heredia both spending time in triple A along with Dee Gordon having to go back to his familiar position of second base.

Ben Gamel: started on the disabled list in spring training. Doing well platooning with Heredia in left field the in mid-May the Mariners acquired Denard Span. At that point they were sharing left field until Dee Gordon went back to second base when Robinson Cano was injured then suspended. Gamel played some in right field with Haniger moving to center field when Heredia was struggling at the plate. Gamel was sent to triple A in August though he was hitting well. He returned in late August playing sparingly. Not sure where he will be in 2019. I don’t think there will be room for both him and Denard. One of them will likely be traded.

Mitch Haniger: had a solid season for the Mariners. He was named the MVP of the team. He was second in home runs and rbi’s to Nelson Cruz. He started batting sixth then moved to cleanup when Cruz was out for a little while. In August moved to lead-off hitter when Gordon was struggling. Also played some center field as well though manager Servais feels right field is his true position. In my mind he is a superstar in the making.

Guillermo Heredia: started the season platooning in left field with Ichiro then Gamel was doing fine in that role. He started playing center field when Dee Gordon moved to second base because of Robinson Cano injury then suspension. He plated good center field but his hitting suffered playing every day. He was sent to Tacoma when Gamel was reactivated for a short period of time then again in late August when he was struggling and the Mariners had acquired Cameron Maybin and brought Gamel back up. I see Heredia platooning once again in left center and occasionally playing in center field as well. At some point he could become a regular in the outfield but not sure this is a good time.

Cameron Maybin: the Mariners acquired him at the trading deadline from the Miami Marlins. He started playing some in center field however never felt like he fit in with the Mariners. In September he was in the role of platooning in left field and occasion in center field. He will be a free agent and I don’t see him returning to the Mariners.

Denard Span: acquired in May along with reliever Alex Colome. Been a solid contributor platooning in left field along with pinch hitting when needed. Not the defensive player he once was but his offense was good including in the second half when some of the other players offense had disappeared. He could play a good role in the outfield once again if they decide to keep. He has an option so the Mariners could release him or trade him. If he stays on the team he will be paid $12 million. I see him or Gamel in the Mariners outfield but not both especially if they pick up another outfielder. This will depend to what they decide to do with Dee Gordon as well.

Designated Hitter:

Nelson Cruz: had another good season for the Mariners making the all-star team once again. He was one of the few who continued to play good in the second half. Led the team in home runs and rbi’s as well. He will be a free agent. Although he would like to return not sure the Mariners are as keen to keep him around. The reason they would like to use position players at dh instead of someone who can’t play in the field. Though I agree with them at the same time will they be able to replace his offense output. We will see what happens. I do hope he returns since he is a special player.

Next up looking at players on the triple A Tacoma roster not on the 40-man roster.