The 2018 Seattle Mariners fell short of a Wild Card and begin this season with renewed optimism for the future. General manager Jerry Dipoto was busy this offseason, overturning the roster and aiming toward 2020 and 2021, rather than remaining in go-for-it mode.
The Mariners have some key returning players, however, making the roster somewhat familiar to fans.
Key Holdovers
| PLAYER | POS | *WAR | SALARY |
| Marco Gonzales | LHP | 2.2 | $910K |
| Mitch Haniger | RF | 2.9 | TC |
| Kyle Seager | 3B | 2.6 | $19.5M |
| Mike Leake | RHP | 1.5 | $16.0M |
| Dee Gordon | 2B | 1.5 | $13.3M |
*STEAMER PROJECTION
TC = Team Controlled
Mariners responsible for $11M
Gonzales will team with Leake, Wade LeBlanc and club legend Felix Hernandez in the starting rotation. But Dipoto went out and added a hard-throwing left-hander to the mix.
Haniger, an All-Star in 2018, is the team’s best player and most valued trade chip, but Dipoto has resisted to date, which suggests the club is asking a lot for the 28-year-old, and rightfully so.
Seager and Gordon both are looking to bounce back from poor seasons.
Key Additions
| PLAYER | POS | *WAR | SALARY |
| Yusei Kikuchi | LHP | NA | $9.5M |
| Mallex Smith | CF | 2.3 | TC |
| Omar Narvaez | C | 1.6 | TC |
| Edwin Encarnacion | 1B | 1.5 | $21.67M |
| Domingo Santana | LF | 1.4 | $1.95M |
| Jay Bruce | RF | 0.5 | $14.0M |
| Anthony Swarzak | RHR | 0.3 | $8.5M |
| Hunter Strickland | RHR | -0.2 | $1.3M |
Kikuchi, 27, signed a four-year, $56 million deal with Seattle in January after being posted by the Seibu Lions. He’s a power pitcher whose fastball sits 90-94 mph and has been up to 97. He also throws a curveball, slider and splitter, all of which are big-league caliber.
Smith came over from Tampa Bay and is likely to man centerfield every day and perhaps serve as the regular leadoff hitter.
Narvaez is a hit-first catcher with on-base skills and maybe some untapped power from the left side.
Bruce and Encarnacion are potential spring trade bait, but have a place in the lineup if they remain Mariners.
Swarzak and Strickland are expected to man the late innings for Seattle.
Key Losses
| PLAYER | POS | NEW TEAM | *WAR | SALARY |
| Robinson Cano | 2B | NY Mets | 3.3 | $24.0M |
| Edwin Diaz | RHR | NY Mets | 1.4 | TC |
| Mike Zunino | C | Tampa Bay | 1.5 | $4.41M |
| James Paxton | LHP | NY Yankees | 4.0 | $8.58M |
| Jean Segura | SS | Philadelphia | 2.5 | $14.25M |
| Juan Nicasio | RHR | Philadelphia | 0.2 | $9M |
Mariners paid Mets $5m Cash 12/18. Additional $3.75M payments each of the next four years.
The Mariners didn’t cut a lot of payroll in the winter moves despite the big names leaving town, but project to start 2019 at about $145 million.
Seattle Mariners Payroll
2019 Mariners Win Projections
