There has been a lot of talk, and this space is no exception, about whether the Mariners’ winning ways are sustainable.
There has been a lot of criticism about ownership’s lack of spending, along with cynicism as to whether that trend will end at the trade deadline.
The acquisitions meant to boost the offense last offseason have been fruitless, and the team’s star — Julio Rodriguez — has been far more human than super.
But let’s stop for a minute and give the Mariners’ brass something they don’t seem to get too often: credit.
This club, after all, had a three-year span in which it won 90, 90 and 88 games. That second 90-victory season (2022) resulted in a playoff appearance for the first time in 21 years. And entering Wednesday night’s game, the M’s (35-27) sat in first place in the American League West after winning eight of nine to build a 5½-game lead over second-place Texas.
That isn’t dumb luck. That’s solid team building … reluctant as some might be to acknowledge it.
Let’s start with the pitching, which entered Wednesday’s game with the sixth-best ERA in MLB. The arms have been responsible for keeping Seattle afloat, as the M’s are 25th in the majors in runs and 26th in OPS. And if we’re talking about the starting rotation, most are home grown on president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto’s watch.
Logan Gilbert was a 2018 first-round draft pick who was brought up in 2021 and boasts a 3.29 ERA. George Kirby was a 2019 first-round pick who was brought up in 2022 and leads MLB in strike percentage. Bryce Miller was a 2021 fourth-round pick who was brought up last season and has a WHIP of 0.962, the ninth-best in the majors. Bryan Woo was a 2021 sixth-round pick who was brought up last year and has a 1.30 ERA through five starts this season.
That is scouting and development epitomized. These weren’t necessarily can’t-miss talents who just lived up to the hype — they were smart selections that progressed exquisitely.
And the one starting pitcher not named yet? That would be Luis Castillo, the three-time All-Star the Mariners targeted at the 2022 trade deadline, signed to a five-year, $108 million extension, then watched finish fifth in the AL Cy Young voting last year. His 2.99 ERA this season is tops among Mariners starters who have pitched more than five games. That’s making your money work for you.
Plus, there is closer Andrés Muñoz, perhaps more responsible for the 13 one-run games Seattle has won this year than anyone else. The Mariners picked him up (with first baseman Ty France) in a 2020 swap with San Diego in which they gave up no one of real consequence. Dipoto hasn’t won every trade. He might not have even won most trades, but that one was a decisive victory.
Kind of like drafting Cal Raleigh. The Mariners catcher will forever be a part of team lore thanks to the walkoff homer he socked two Septembers ago to end Seattle’s playoff drought. But the 2018 third-round pick has also been one of the Mariners’ most consistent players over the past three seasons.
His 3.9 wins above replacement (WAR) — considered the all-encompassing stat for a player’s value — was second on the 2022 team. His 3.2 WAR last year was fifth, and his 1.4 WAR this year is second. Another prime find by the front office.
Then, of course, there is Rodriguez, the historically slow starter (although this season has been particularly slow) who won AL Rookie of the Year in 2022 and finished fourth in the MVP voting last year. Whether the $210 million (at least) investment ends up paying off is to be determined, but if he regularly puts together seasons like he did a year ago, it will be a bargain.
Perhaps this reads like PR for the Mariners’ brain trust. It isn’t. And it’s certainly not a justification for the perpetually low payroll, or a suggestion that the offense is anywhere near adequate. This team needs its established hitters to start hitting and almost certainly needs to add a bat at or before the trade deadline.
But the Mariners are comfortably in first place for now. They also have a pitching staff that can lead them to a World Series if they stay healthy.
Yes, fans have earned the right to be skeptical, angry and pessimistic based on the team’s history. That includes the history under Dipoto and chairman John Stanton, who have overseen just one playoff berth since coming on for the 2016 season.
But there have been some good moves. A lot of them, actually. And those have led to a lot of wins.
For now, that is.
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