Two Significant Questions on Mariners’ Roster Are Nearing Clarity
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Credit: Ian D'Andrea [/caption]
The majority of Spring Training is full of useless information, but its final few days can provide some important breadcrumbs. If you follow the trail currently being left by the Mariners, you may find yourself at the conclusion that Ryan Bliss is set to be the team’s primary second baseman to begin the regular season.
Hitting for a .321 average with a .536 slugging percentage in 28 plate appearances this spring, Bliss has been one of the biggest stars in Mariners camp. But the numbers, which have come in such a small and spread-out sample size, are not the story here; it’s the process behind the success for Bliss. His approach at the plate has shifted, with an emphasis on timing up fastballs after struggling to the tune of a .194 average against heaters in his rookie campaign, and so far he’s seen a decent amount of success in that regard. Statcast data is unavailable for some of the games Bliss has appeared in this spring, but at least four of his nine hits have come off of fastballs, with three resulting in hard contact (exit velocity of 95 miles per hour or greater).
With an Opening Day date against the Athletics coming up in nine days, the Mariners are beginning to roll out their projected starters more often. Three of the four most recent games Bliss has served as Seattle’s second baseman in have featured at least seven of the team’s regulars, including on a split-squad day this past Saturday. That same day, Dylan Moore was with the “B team” and not even as a second baseman, instead playing third, and found himself in a lineup comprised of the Mariners’ projected bench and Triple-A depth the very next day. Furthermore, both Bliss and Moore were present in Seattle’s latest lineup on March 18, with the former playing second and the latter playing shortstop.
If that is indeed an indication of what Seattle’s initial plans are at second base, then Moore will revert back to the role he’s filled over the past six seasons as the Mariners’ primary utility man. That may have been their preference all along, despite Moore being the presumed second base starter heading into camp. If the Mariners want to maximize the talent on their roster, keeping the 2024 Gold Glove winner tied to one specific position would accomplish the opposite of that, stripping him of his most valuable tool: his defensive versatility. Not only that, but it may also prevent Seattle from carrying its 13 best position players into the regular season due to positional needs.
In the event the Mariners pencil Bliss in as the everyday second baseman and have Moore float between several positions, they would have a roster spot up for grabs that isn’t necessarily dependent on position but rather how much they’re willing to deploy the player who ultimately fills it. If they can count the number of plate appearances they plan to give that player on a per week basis on one hand, then the answer may be Miles Mastrobuoni or Samad Taylor. If that number is higher, however, perhaps they turn to someone with more upside such as Dominic Canzone or Austin Shenton.
In either case, it’s hard to imagine the benefactor being Rowdy Tellez, considering his lack of athleticism, versatility, and the presence of other similar profiles such as Mitch Garver, Donovan Solano, and Mitch Haniger. But Tellez may find a different way onto the roster if Haniger, who hasn’t appeared in game action since March 8, continues to deal with shoulder discomfort. Tellez has the first of three opportunities to opt out of his minor-league contract coming up on March 23, but the Mariners can block that from happening if they choose to add him to their 40-man roster beforehand — a move that would be accompanied by a $1.5 million kicker for the 30-year old slugger.
That would seemingly all but confirm Tellez’s spot on Seattle’s Opening Day roster, as well as a decision to either place Haniger on the injured list or move on from him. Sticking with the theme of following breadcrumbs left by the Mariners this spring, Tellez has gradually earned more playing time alongside the rest of the team’s projected starters as he continues to hit the ball well to the tune of a .297/.333/.595 slash line with three home runs. At the very least, he seems to be at the front of the line to substitute for Haniger, who’s running out of time to ramp up for the start of the regular season. The Mariners will likely have to make a determination there in the next day or two, if they haven’t already.
Once their stance on that becomes official, and with all signs pointing towards Bliss at second base, the only question that will remain in the Mariners’ position player group is a very minor one: Mastrobuoni, Taylor, or someone else for that 13th and final spot? It’s possible “someone else” might not refer to a player currently in Seattle’s organization either. As roster cutdowns happen across the league, several players who are out of minor-league options may be available via trade. Perhaps the Mariners, as they sift through a fairly long list of bullpen options, could flip one of their mid-leverage relievers for some help on their bench in the coming days.
