We have a new contributor – Jake Tomasello is a Mariners fan from Seattle. Here’s what he thinks are the big three issues facing the team heading into the new season…
There are still over 40 days left until pitchers and catchers report to the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues to begin Spring Training.
This offseason has seen the largest contract in sports history signed by Juan Soto along with several stunning trades such as LHP Garrett Crochet going to the Boston Red Sox.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, the winter has been frustratingly quiet. Thus far, the Mariners have only made two 40-man roster acquisitions in catcher Nick Raposo and infielder Austin Shenton. Neither move has changed the 26-man roster that we will see on Opening Day, and the days and options are dwindling.
With that said, let’s look at the three top storylines for fans to pay attention to going into the 2025 season.
- The Infield
Entering the 2025 season, almost all of the “holes” on the Mariners roster are in the infield, specifically at first base, second base, and third base. It is currently reported that the Mariners front office has approximately $16 million to fill those holes before 27 March.
First Base
After designating fan-favorite Ty France for assignment in late July, the Mariners filled the first base position with 40-year old Justin Turner and outfielder Luke Raley. Turner is currently a free agent and, even if they do re-sign him, there is an obvious concern giving him innings at the corner. Raley is the more likely option to fulfill the role in 2025, but his 70 WRC+ against left-handed pitching last year could be an issue for moving him to first base full-time.
There have also been multiple reports of the Mariners targeting 24-year-old Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas. Although Casas’ bat has a lot of upside, there are worries about his injury history continuing to trend in the wrong direction, as he missed substantial time in 2024 with a left rib strain. Trading for Casas would also require losing a piece of Seattle’s star-studded rotation, which general manager Jerry Dipoto has said is “Plan Z”.
Second Base
When the Mariners traded for Minnesota Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco last December, it was widely seen as a solid move, but it did not pan out that way. Polanco’s 92 wRC+ on the season was disappointing in comparison to his decade-long career of consistently performing as an above league-average bat. With the news of Polanco getting patellar tendon surgery in his left knee after the season ended, re-signing him would represent a big risk.
The Mariners may instead opt to fill the position internally. Super-utilityman Dylan Moore established himself at the big league level and gave the Mariners Gold Glove-calibre defence in 2024. Ryan Bliss also had a nice cup-of-coffee on the MLB squad last year, posting a slash line of .222/.290/.397 for a 92 wRC+ in 77 plate appearances. The Mariners’ #2 prospect Cole Young could also factor into the equation as soon as Opening Day after producing a .369 OBP and 23 stolen bases last season at Double-A Arkansas.
Third Base
Josh Rojas was a fan-favorite last season at the hot corner. However, his 91 WRC+ led to him being non-tendered this November. As Rojas has now signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox, the Mariners must now look outside the organisation.
Other than Alex Bregman, the third base free agent class is sparse, but the most intriguing option is Yoán Moncada. Moncada’s offensive production has been shaky at best over the course of his career, only posting an above league-average wRC+ twice when he played over 100 games. T-Mobile Park is better suited to left-handed bats though, and Moncada being a switch hitter would naturally mean he’d bat from the left side of the plate more often, which could be a plus.
There has also been speculation that the Mariners could be heavy suitors for Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm if he is available. Bohm is a better offensive choice than Moncada, although there are concerns that his right-handed pull power wouldn’t translate to a ballpark that suppresses that very thing.
- Can J-Rod Bounce Back
During his rookie season, Julio Rodríguez signed a twelve-year, $209.3 million extension which cemented him as the face of the franchise. In 2023, Rodríguez then put up his first 30-30 season and showed what he was capable of.
Rodríguez’s 2024 was a step back; he dropped from being a 5.8 win player to a 3.8 win player, mainly due to an injured list stint in mid-July, but also due to a dip in his offensive production. Rodríguez would end the season with a slash line of .273/.325/.409 for a 116 wRC+.
One of the main weaknesses in Rodríguez’s game has been consistency, specifically in the first half of the season. In 2023, he posted a 104 wRC+ in the first half. In 2024, he didn’t do much better with a 105 wRC+. This past season was especially aggravating as his strikeout percentage went up to 27.4% before the All-Star break.
There isn’t a straightforward reason as to why Rodríguez struggles in the colder months (maybe it is just the weather), but what fans want to see in 2025 is consistency. Rodríguez, like every player, has his slumps and surges – most notably, his 17 hits in four games in August of 2023, for example. It would be a benefit to the team if Rodríguez could find a way for his valleys to not be so harsh.
- Victor Robles
On 27 May 2024, the Washington Nationals designated Victor Robles for assignment. The same organisation that drafted and developed him cut him loose after numerous injuries and mediocre offensive production. On 4 June, a new organisation gave Robles a shot.
It didn’t take long for the former top prospect to captivate Mariners fans with his exciting play. In 262 plate appearances, Robles slashed .328/.393/.467 for a 141 wRC+, all while stealing 30 bases and playing elite outfield defence. Robles’ personality also shined through as he was popping bubble gum in the middle of at-bats, and talked about his pet monkeys while mic’d up in centre field during a Sunday Night Baseball broadcast.
There is one big question with Robles heading into 2025; can he replicate his 2024 success? Prior to coming to Seattle, Robles hadn’t managed to achieve a league-average wRC+ or higher in any season where he played over 50 games. Maybe a new organisation without the pressure of being a former top prospect is what Robles needed, but it’s too early to tell.
This upcoming season will be very important for Robles then, as it will show if his 2024 stint was just a flash in the pan, or a sign of what’s to come.
Conclusion
After losing out on the postseason in consecutive years by one game, Mariners fans are itching for October baseball again.
The front office still has time to make some moves to improve the roster for Opening Day, but it will also take current roster members playing to their full abilities to hopefully bring October baseball back to Seattle.
Jake Tomasello is a Mariners fan from Seattle, and can be found on Twitter @RaiseTheTrident.
Featured image – Rio Giancarlo/Circling Seattle Sport
