2021-2022 Mariners offseason/free agency thread

[NWinAZ]

ESPN 2022 Power Rating Prediction Rank:

15. Seattle Mariners​

​

2021 record: 90-72 (second in AL West)

It was a miracle season for the Mariners. Outscored by 51 runs, yet still alive for a playoff spot entering the final day of the season. This ranking, however, might be a little generous: The talent base, at least right now, is not that of 90-win club. They won 90 due to some amazing clutch performances -- late-game clutch hitting in close games from an otherwise bad offense, and late-game clutch bullpen work from the likes of castoffs Paul Sewald and Drew Steckenrider.

The Mariners need some stars. Maybe Jarred Kelenic will become one, but more likely it will be Julio Rodriguez, who will arrive sometime in 2022. Starter Logan Gilbert has a bright future, and Matt Brash and George Kirby could be impact starters soon as well. The Mariners are expected to be active in free agency, so this ranking could improve by the end of the offseason, but the surprising results in 2021 might also create unrealistic expectations for 2022.

 

[ulmax]

Ranking the Top 100 MLB Players of the 2021 Seas​

ZACHARY D. RYMERNOVEMBER 1, 2021

100-91: Clase-Schwarber​

1. 91. LF/1B Kyle Schwarber, Boston Red Sox
   WAR Average: 3.2
   Even though he missed six weeks with a hamstring strain, this was still easily the best offensive season of Schwarber's career. Walk and barrel rates in the 94th and 96th percentiles, respectively, paved his way to a career-high 148 OPS+ and 32 homers in 113 games.

90-81: Frazier-Votto​

1. 90. 2B Adam Frazier, San Diego Padres
   WAR Average: 3.8
   He wasn't so good after going from Pittsburgh to San Diego, where he hit just .267 in 57 games. Yet that only does so much to diminish the .305 average that he had for the season as a whole, and he also played a darn good second base (i.e., six outs above average) for both of his teams.

1. 
   88. 3B/OF Kris Bryant, San Francisco Giants
   WAR Average: 3.5
   He began 2021 better than he ended it, going from a 1.004 OPS through 53 games to a .730 OPS over his next 91 games. Even still, it's hard to quibble with a 124 OPS+, 25 home runs and solid defense at multiple positions.

80-71: Hernandez-India​

1. 
   73. 1B Ty France, Seattle Mariners
   WAR Average: 3.9
   Here's a good candidate for "Best Player Nobody Knows About." France came out of nowhere (i.e., not actually France) to post a 133 OPS+ last year, and he kept right on raking with a 128 OPS+ in 2021. He also did well at first base, posting five defensive runs saved in place of injured Gold Glover Evan White.

70-61: Suarez-Gallo​

1. 63. C Mike Zunino, Tampa Bay Rays
   WAR Average: 4.1
   The bad news is that Zunino had a whiff rate worthy of Joey Gallo this season. But when he did make contact, he barreled the ball like Shohei Ohtani to finish with a 138 OPS+ and 33 home runs. Throw in some of the game's best framing, and his imperfections were mostly inconsequential.
   
   62. SS/2B Javier Baez, New York Mets
   WAR Average: 4.1
   As he now has 259 strikeouts against only 35 walks since the start of the 2020 season, teams will rightfully have questions about Baez's zone discipline in free agency. He's nonetheless coming off a fairly typical season marked by a 117 OPS+ and 31 homers as well as stylish glovework in the field.
   

50-41: Alcantara-deGrom​

6 OF 10

 

[SeattleCoug]

This is huge news, well i guess only if they spend that money. But now I am hoping Anderson is resigned to go along with adding a front line pitcher.
Regarding Kikuchi, my guess is heads back home as I dont see how this move makes sense otherwise. Would be the 3rd guy to do that joing Kaz and Jojima which is somewhat interesting. I wish him the best tho

 

[SeattleCoug]

ESPN 2022 Power Rating Prediction Rank:

15. Seattle Mariners​

​

2021 record: 90-72 (second in AL West)

It was a miracle season for the Mariners. Outscored by 51 runs, yet still alive for a playoff spot entering the final day of the season. This ranking, however, might be a little generous: The talent base, at least right now, is not that of 90-win club. They won 90 due to some amazing clutch performances -- late-game clutch hitting in close games from an otherwise bad offense, and late-game clutch bullpen work from the likes of castoffs Paul Sewald and Drew Steckenrider.

The Mariners need some stars. Maybe Jarred Kelenic will become one, but more likely it will be Julio Rodriguez, who will arrive sometime in 2022. Starter Logan Gilbert has a bright future, and Matt Brash and George Kirby could be impact starters soon as well. The Mariners are expected to be active in free agency, so this ranking could improve by the end of the offseason, but the surprising results in 2021 might also create unrealistic expectations for 2022.

This is about right for now but hopefully it looks a little better in March

 

[ulmax]

if they cant grab...an other...option...i think..you have to consider..him..for one year.......

1. 48. CF Starling Marte, Oakland Athletics
   WAR Average: 5.1
   Marte is still doing most of the things that made him a star with Pittsburgh in the mid-2010s. One change this year is that he drew walks in a career-high 8.2 percent of his plate appearances to go with his .308 average and MLB-high 47 steals, so he's frankly never been better even though he's now 33 years old.

40-31: Mahle-Lowe​

7 OF 10

30-21: Riley-Olson​

8 OF 10

1. 21. 1B Matt Olson, Oakland Athletics
   WAR Average: 5.4
   Olson did something that should be impossible in today's MLB, which is cut his strikeout percentage from 2020 (31.4) basically in half in 2021 (16.8). That plus his power and patience were his ticket to a 153 OPS+ and 39 home runs, and he also played his usual Gold Glove-caliber defense.

20-11: O'Neill-Turner​

1. 20. LF Tyler O'Neill, St. Louis Cardinals
   WAR Average: 5.9
   How do you overcome a 31.3 strikeout percentage? If you're Tyler O'Neill, basically by doing everything else well. A 97th-percentile barrel rate was the foundation for his 150 OPS+ and 34 home runs. And especially based on his 12 defensive runs saved, he's rightfully a finalist for his second straight Gold Glove.
2. 
   19. CF Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh Pirates
   WAR Average: 5.8
   So, this Bryan Reynolds guy might be really good. He was about equally productive from the left (.911 OPS) and right (.915 OPS) sides of the plate in 2021, and he even had 11 outs above average in the outfield. He also specializes in the kind of good baserunning that, to paraphrase Yogi Berra, you can only observe by watching.
   
3. 14. RHP Max Scherzer, Los Angeles Dodgers
   WAR Average: 5.7
   Though he's now 37 years old, Scherzer's twilight years are nowhere to be seen. He continued to operate with an elite contact rate in 2021, and he eventually led the league in walks and hits per nine innings. Between that and his 166 ERA+ and 236 strikeouts over 179.1 innings, he has a case for what would be his fourth Cy Young Award.
   

10-1: Harper-Ohtani​

10 OF 10

1. 4. 2B Marcus Semien, Toronto Blue Jays
   WAR Average: 6.9
   From looking at his peripheral stats, you could make the case that Semien overperformed in 2021. Yet pulled fly balls solve a lot of problems, and he hit more of those than any other American Leaguer as he compiled a 133 OPS+ and 45 home runs. He's also rightfully a Gold Glove finalist even though this was his first year as a full-time second baseman. For the second time in three years, he has MVP votes coming.

 

[ulmax]

ESPN 2022 Power Rating Prediction Rank:

15. Seattle Mariners​

​

2021 record: 90-72 (second in AL West)

It was a miracle season for the Mariners. Outscored by 51 runs, yet still alive for a playoff spot entering the final day of the season. This ranking, however, might be a little generous: The talent base, at least right now, is not that of 90-win club. They won 90 due to some amazing clutch performances -- late-game clutch hitting in close games from an otherwise bad offense, and late-game clutch bullpen work from the likes of castoffs Paul Sewald and Drew Steckenrider.

The Mariners need some stars. Maybe Jarred Kelenic will become one, but more likely it will be Julio Rodriguez, who will arrive sometime in 2022. Starter Logan Gilbert has a bright future, and Matt Brash and George Kirby could be impact starters soon as well. The Mariners are expected to be active in free agency, so this ranking could improve by the end of the offseason, but the surprising results in 2021 might also create unrealistic expectations for 2022.

Logan Gilbert 36..is like a couple years ahead...of..guys like.....(and these are the best seattle pitchers in the minors

Matt Brash 47
Levi Stoudt
Brandon Williamson 18......L/L
George Kirby 37
Emerson Hancock 92
...................................................................................................
Isaiah Campbell 62
Taylor Dollard 20
Connor Phillips 37
Tyler Driver 30
Tim Elliott 21
.........................................................................................................
Sam Carlson 33
Adam Macko..........L/L
Bryce Miller 15
Brayan Perez 32....L/L

1 JosiasDe Los Santos P	MOD	4	8	5.27	20	20	0	0	0	0	95.2	100	68	56	7	3	70	89	1.78	.271

........................................................................................................
last year..draft picks..some may end up...starters...and prob....will.
William Fleming 17
Jimmy Kingsbury 12
Bryce Miller 15

1 JosiasDe Los Santos P	MOD	4	8	5.27	20	20	0	0	0	0	95.2	100	68	56	7	3	70	89	1.78	.271
2 SamCarlson P	MOD	6	4	4.77	19	19	0	0	0	0	100.0	107	69	53	7	13	44	112	1.51	.268
3 ConnorPhillips P	MOD	7	3	4.75	16	16	0	0	0	0	72.0	62	42	38	1	4	44	104	1.47	.229
4 DamonCasetta-Stubbs P	MOD	3	3	6.42	9	9	0	0	0	0	40.2	33	35	29	6	7	27	58	1.48	.219
4 AdamMacko P	MOD	2	2	4.59	9	9	0	0	0	0	33.1	29	19	17	1	2	21	56	1.50	.223
6 TaylorDollard P	MOD	3	2	3.35	7	7	0	0	0	0	37.2	40	15	14	2	1	10	59	1.33	.265
6 JimmyKingsbury P	MOD	2	1	2.20	8	7	0	0	0	0	32.2	16	8	8	2	5	11	39	0.83	.138
8 KelvinNunez P	MOD	4	3	6.09	25	6	0	0	1	2	54.2	66	42	37	8	1	22	50	1.61	.292
8 BrayanPerez P	MOD	1	4	3.34	31	6	0	0	1	2	67.1	75	37	25	2	4	18	81	1.38	.270
10 MaxRoberts P	MOD	0	0	4.30	11	5	0	0	0	0	23.0	16	14	11	2	2	14	29	1.30	.200
11 BryceMiller P	MOD	0	0	4.82	5	3	0	0	0	1	9.1	15	7	5	0	0	2	15	1.82	.357
12 WilliamFleming P	MOD	3	0	2.84	7	2	0	0	0	0	19.0	14	7	6	2	0	3	22	0.89	.203

 

[ulmax]

if carlson..was .......MLB..ready...they would have moved him up....from.....here......rule 5..i dont think ...so.....

last years draft picks ...combined..with the already...modesto pitchers......will .make an awesome..rotation...hopefully.........

we just have to see how it ...goes.....

they have to consider..i would say...for dH.

LF Eddie Rosario elected free agency. others RHP Kendall Graveman elected free agency. SS Trevor Story elected free agency.

 

[ulmax]

there has to be something ...wrong with...cleveland.....there.....hitting....wellll aaahhh

rosario..and baur,,,could not hit there.......
baur..is one thing....rosario..is an other...........but he goes to atlanta.........and helps them...win the series...and his numbers...are right back..up.to rosario numbers......what theeeeeeeeee..................

�

2019	MIN	AL	137	562	91	155	281	28	1	32	109	22	2	86	3	1	.276	.300	.500	.800	0.79
2020	MIN	AL	57	210	31	54	100	7	0	13	42	19	2	34	3	1	.257	.316	.476	.792	0.70
2021	2 teams	-	111	379	42	98	165	19	3	14	62	26	0	61	11	3	.259	.305	.435	.740	0.84
2021	ATL	NL	33	96	13	26	55	4	2	7	16	9	0	14	2	1	.271	.330	.573	.903	0.68
2021	CLE	AL	78	283	29	72	110	15	1	7	46	17	0	47	9	2	.254	.296	.389	.685	0.90
MLB Career	-	-	808	3040	442	836	1438	153	25	133	450	159	15	600	50	23	.275	.309	.473	.782	0.83

LHP Carlos Rodon elected free agency.

 

[wazzu31]

You do have to give Jerry props for this.

 

[NWinAZ]

You do have to give Jerry props for this.

Huh?

 

[NWinAZ]

This is huge news, well i guess only if they spend that money. But now I am hoping Anderson is resigned to go along with adding a front line pitcher.
Regarding Kikuchi, my guess is heads back home as I dont see how this move makes sense otherwise. Would be the 3rd guy to do that joing Kaz and Jojima which is somewhat interesting. I wish him the best tho

Exactly. If they pocket the money, it won't shocked me.

This is about right for now but hopefully it looks a little better in March

Agreed and pretty accurate comments in the article.

 

[NWinAZ]

Not surprising.

 

[wazzu31]

Huh?

He got him to decline his option.

 

[NWinAZ]

He got him to decline his option.

I got your point lol but didn't understand how he did this in your view? I said from day one you tell him if he picks it up you put him in the pen. I wonder if they came up? Kikuchi is said to want to start and prove himself.

 

[wazzu31]

I got your point lol but didn't understand how he did this in your view? I said from day one you tell him if he picks it up you put him in the pen. I wonder if they came up? Kikuchi is said to want to start and prove himself.

He still has to have ammo to say that and convince him to do it. None of the guys who have chosen to go back to Japan have had the guaranteed money Kikuchi did. He could’ve exercised his option then essentially get paid to stay home all of next year. Maybe he has pride and all that stuff but his agent doesn’t.

 

[NWinAZ]

He still has to have ammo to say that and convince him to do it. None of the guys who have chosen to go back to Japan have had the guaranteed money Kikuchi did. He could’ve exercised his option then essentially get paid to stay home all of next year. Maybe he has pride and all that stuff but his agent doesn’t.

Really not sure if he convinced him of anything or even talked to him. Maybe the Assistant GM just sent him an email and that did it?

 

[wazzu31]

Really not sure if he convinced him of anything or even talked to him. Maybe the Assistant GM just sent him an email and that did it?

Touché

 

[ulmax]

Really not sure if he convinced him of anything or even talked to him. Maybe the Assistant GM just sent him an email and that did it?

I would still..take kuchi.........for spot starter...bull pen guy...........but.........full time ...starter...........i...ahhh...just....ahhh

right..............

 

[ulmax]

some things..dont change.......if you loose...the starter roll......you have to earn....it back.....it is not `...........honor...no...you can only do...what you can..........

if you loose respect...then if you want it ..back...you have to earn..it....................and not so easy...the second time around...

a la flexen...........maybe.............

 

[NWinAZ]

Let the rumors begin: