The Mariners Outfield

With the Mariners having a day off
decided to write about their outfield.
With Kyle Lewis on the injured list
they have three outfielders listed on
the roster in Jake Fraley, Taylor
Trammell, and Mitch Haniger.

Currently the Mariners have to use

infielders like Jake Bauers, Shed Long

Jr. and Dylan Moore in the outfield

when Haniger or Fraley are dhing.

Again in the first game on Sunday

Taylor Trammell showed his talent

by hitting two homers to win the 

game for the Mariners along with

a great catch in the bottom of the

ninth inning which could have been

disaster if he hadn't caught it.

The nice thing is all three of the

outfielders can play centerfield 

well as left and right. Haniger for

the most part is in right field.

The reason I say that is when Kyle

Lewis returns should he be back

in center field. Is his value too much

to take a risk? I guess we will find

out on his return. With Haniger in

right field the logic would be to put

Lewis in left field while Fraley and

Trammell can play center field.

This all comes down to when Jarred

Kelenic is recalled. Sounds like the

Mariners would put him in center

field. 

In the next couple years we will see

Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez in the

outfield as long as they can hit major

league pitching that is. I think most

experts would say yes.

So should the Mariners sign Haniger

to extension or not? Should he be

traded. A hard question for sure. This

would mean Haniger or Rodriguez in

right field while Kelenic is in center field

and Kyle Lewis in left. One of the four

would dh on a given day. 

This would mean Trammell and Fraley

both would be traded. This is a good 

dilemma to have. On the other hand do

they trade Haniger before or after signing

a new contract. He could have a no-trade

clause as well.

To trade Trammell and Fraley they would

have to show they have been able to hit

major league pitching or no value would

happen. 

The Mariners could use a second baseman.

At this point in the rebuilding they don't

have a second baseman in the horizon unlike

the outfield. Also, this likely the last season

of Kyle Seager the Mariners will have the

option of having Ty France playing third

base unless they go out trade or sign a

third baseman. 

The Mariners do have Dylan Moore and

Shed Long Jr who can play second base

but neither have shown they can be at the

position on a regular basis. 

At least we can see the outfield should be

in good hands as long as guys beyond 

Haniger and Lewis can hit major league

pitching. We know they can all play good

defense which the outfield didn't show 

back in 2019.  Go M's.