Famous Seattle Mariners Players

How the Seattle Mariners' Big Spenders Fared in 2023

Jerry Dipoto's Offseason Spending Spree: A Postmortem

Introduction

The Seattle Mariners made a big splash in the offseason, spending over $200 million on free agents in an effort to end their 21-year playoff drought. But how did those big-name additions perform in 2023?

The Good

• Robbie Ray: The left-handed ace lived up to his contract, leading the Mariners in wins (17) and strikeouts (238).
• Teoscar Hernandez: The right-handed outfielder provided a much-needed power boost, hitting 30 home runs and driving in 90 runs.
• Eugenio Suarez: The third baseman was a steady presence in the middle of the lineup, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 100 runs.

The Bad

• Julio Rodriguez: The young star struggled in his sophomore season, hitting just .255 with 25 home runs and 75 RBIs.
• Mitch Haniger: The outfielder was limited to just 57 games due to injuries, hitting just .210 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs.
• Matt Brash: The young pitcher struggled in his first full season as a starter, posting a 5.63 ERA in 28 starts.

The Ugly

• Chris Flexen: The right-hander was a major disappointment, posting a 6.30 ERA in 25 starts.
• Abraham Toro: The infielder was a bust, hitting just .200 with 5 home runs and 25 RBIs.
• Tommy La Stella: The utility player was injured for most of the season, and when he did play, he was ineffective.

Conclusion

The Mariners' big spending spree in the offseason did not pay off in 2023. The team finished with a 78-84 record, missing the playoffs once again.

It is still too early to say whether the Mariners' big-name additions will be worth the investment in the long run. However, the team's performance in 2023 is a reminder that spending money does not guarantee success.