– Last Updated on November 21, 2022 4:47 pm
Mariners 2017 Season Preview
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MLB Mariners Predictions & Handicapping Insight
The Seattle Mariners enter the 2017 Season on the heels of some major off-season changes. They appear to be a complete team, with some star bats and solid secondary pieces in the lineup and what should be a strong starting rotation.
2017 MLB Team Previews – Seattle Mariners
- American League West +275
- American League +1600
- World Series +3300
Key Additions:
- Drew Smyly
- Mitch Haniger
- Leonys Martin
- Jean Segura
- Carlos Ruiz
- Yovani Gallardo
- Jarrod Dyson
The outfield will look completely different this season, adding the likes of speed guys in Jarrod Dyson and Leonys Martin, the former who should take over the majority of starts in Centerfield.
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Dyson should be a lock for 30+ steals barring a significant injury.
Jean Segura is coming off of a career year in 2016 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he swatted 20 homeruns and stole 33 bags with a .319 average. If he can even come close to repeating these marks, Seattle could turn into a favorite.
Here’s a look at the key losses for the team, though on paper it appears they have upgraded all around.
The potential of Taijuan Walker will be a key to see how big the loss is, though Smyly appears to be a strong replacement.
Key Losses:
- Ketel Marte
- Taijaun Walker
- Franklin Gutierrez
- Adam Lind
- Norichika Aoki
The starting lineup projects as a solid one, able to contend with any of the others in the division.
Mariners Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- CF Jarrod Dyson
- SS Jean Segura
- 2B Robinson Cano
- DH Nelson Cruz
- 3B Kyle Seager
- C Mike Zunino
- 1B Dan Vogelbach
- RF Mitch Haniger
- LF Leonys Martin
There is a ton of speed at the top of the lineup, which as long as Dyson and Segura can get on base at a solid clip, should put them in scoring position for their best hitters in the heart of the order behind them.
Mariners Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- RH Felix Hernandez
- LH James Paxton
- RH Hisashi Iwakuma
- LH Drew Smyly
- RH Yovani Gallardo
There is a ton of upside in the rotation with Paxton and Smyly, both young-ish lefties were once top prospects. Paxton changed his delivery last year and his slider is devastating hitters in addition to a fastball that can hit triple-digits.
Mariners Predictions: Projected Closer:
- RH Edwin Diaz
Edwin Diaz quickly became one of the best relief pitchers in the game last season, registering a 15.3 K/9 rate and a 2.79 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP.
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The 22-year old flamethrower recently starred for the Puerto Rico team at the WBC, just a year after he was in Single-A. He has the potential to be the best closer in the game.
The staff overall can match up with the best in the game, though the decline in Felix’s velocity and the age of Iwakuma could certainly play a factor.
Yovani Gallardo is not the power-strikeout pitcher he once was, but has deferred to “pitching” rather than trying to blow it past hitters now.
He could be a decent #5 guy in the rotation, though Ariel Miranda proved he could be an effective starter in limited action last year should Gallardo falter.
Either way, the excellent defense of the Mariners’ will be leaned upon and play a major factor in the kind of years that the pitching staff can put together.
2017 Seattle Mariners Prediction:
There isn’t a ton not to like about the 2017 Mariners team, with key additions in a number of different spots that should all be considered upgrades, at least entering the year.
The heart of the lineup remains intact, with Cano, Cruz and Seager all having advanced approaches at the plate with big power and RBI prowess.
Cruz has finished top-2 in the MLB in homeruns each of the past three seasons. While he is now 37-years old, he has shown no signs of aging and the DH spot should help keep him fresh.
The major questions will be whether the lineup can outperform the star-studded lineups of both Houston and Texas. Can Jean Segura replicate his breakout season from a season ago?
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Will the rotation remain healthy and effective to outperform those of their AL West competitions’?
The consensus seems to be that the Mariners finish 3rd in the AL West, but I think they will outperform those ranks and have a tight race for the Division title at the end with Houston.
The rotation appears to be more complete than the Rangers’ and the lineup should be competitive.
Prediction: 2nd in the AL West.
What do you think of our 2017 Seattle Mariners predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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