Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Mariners Getting Close To Spring Training

Spring training begins for the Mariners
pitchers and catchers reporting next
Thursday while the position players
come on February 20. First preseason
game happens on the 24th.

The Mariners have their starting five
returning at this point unless another 
trade happens beforehand. Emerson 
Hancock will be the main addition to
that group depending on his health. 
He could be a long reliever or start in 
thenminors. Expect to see him sometime
during the season unless he is traded.

The Mariners have four relievers who
spent most of last season in the bullpen.
They along with Gregory Stantos newly
acquired make up the five spots with
three remaining. We look further throughout 
camp how things go.

Cal Raleigh is the only returning catcher.
Mitch Garver is listed as a catcher 
however will be the dh most of the
time so they will have a third catcher 
most likely. Acquired during the off season
Seby Zavala from the Diamondbacks 
should  be the third catcher though they
have Blake Hunt acquired from Tampa
Bay as well.

JP Crawford and Ty France are the
only infielders who began and played 
most of last year to return. Josh Rojas 
who the Mariners acquired in the
Paul Sewald trade played mostly 
second base in August and September.
This year expected to platoon with
newcomer Luis Urias at third base.
Second base will be Jorge Polanco
acquired last week. Sam Haggerty
and Dylan Moore are the two returning
utility players. Moore will likely play
in the outfield and shortstop when
Crawford needs a day off.  With
others competing for utility spot
plus Rojas and Urias platooning 
Haggerty likely start in Tacoma.

In the outfield Julio Rodriguez is
the only regular from last year
to return. Luke Raley acquired 
from Tampa Bay will be in left
or right field. Mitch Haniger 
returns from a year in San Francisco
to be in right or left field. The decision
may depend how the Mariners feel
to keep Mitch the healthy. He is
accustomed to playing right field.
Dominic Canzone who the Mariners
acquired in the Sewald trade as well
may platoon with Haniger or give
him sometime off. He could give
Raley time off as well. Raley may
play some first base as well though
the Mariners hope Ty France returns
to good form. We could see Cade
Marlowe in the outfield as well. He
came up late July last year and 
played some in August as well as
a little in September. Cade hit
.239 in 88 at bats. Likely we will
see Dylan Moore occasionally in
the outfield as a right handed bat
unless the Mariners acquired
another through trade or free agency.

Justin Hollander the Mariners general
manager after Jerry Dipoto was promoted
to President of baseball operations 
mentioned over last weekend the
Mariners may not be done acquiring
another bat so we will see. Stay tuned.
Go M's. 


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