Making the 2021 postseason is still very much a possibility for the Seattle Mariners, with an 84-69 record.
As of Friday afternoon, they are two games behind the New York Yankees, who currently hold the second Wild Card spot.
Seattle is four games behind the Boston Red Sox for the first Wild Card berth.
It means that the Mariners, if they want to make the postseason, can’t afford to lose at this point because there are only three series left to play in the regular season.
The good thing, for them, is that the Toronto Blue Jays, Yankees, and Red Sox will face each other several times.
Even if Seattle doesn’t make it into October, we can safely say that they are, at long last, building a sustainable team that will be successful for years to come.
Lots Of Good Pitching
Let’s start with the pitching.
The Mariners have built a solid bullpen, with Diego Castillo leading the charge and arms such as Paul Sewald, Drew Steckenrider, Erik Swanson, and Casey Sadler likely to return in the future.
Additionally, power right-handers Ken Giles and Andres Munoz should be back next year to solidify the bullpen.
The rotation could definitely use an ace-like pitcher: perhaps that’s the only thing keeping the Mariners from a serious run at the division next year.
Yusei Kikuchi has ace potential, but his 4.32 ERA in 154 innings make him a solid mid-rotation arm.
Chris Flexen is another solid contributor (3.56 ERA in 169.1 frames), and trade deadline acquisition Tyler Anderson has pitched well, too.
Logan Gilbert can be the ace Seattle needs if he takes the next step in 2022.
He has a 4.74 ERA, but his 3.55 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) and 26.3 strikeout rate are excellent numbers with an eye on the future: he is a stud in the making.
Seattle has two possible future aces in the minors: Emerson Hancock and George Kirby.
There a couple of budding stars on offense, too.
Excellent Hitters
Jarred Kelenic, one of baseball’s best prospects, still has a .175 average for the season, but is figuring things out at the plate.
Over his last seven games, he is hitting .348/.464/.913 with three homers.
Jared Kelenic. 3 HRs in 3 Games. Getting hot. Showing us what we’ve been waiting for. Mariners future is so bright 🔥 #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/zWiMNML82k
— Sami Jarjour (@SamiOnTap) September 19, 2021
Julio Rodriguez and Noelvi Marte should come up in 2022 and 2023, respectively, to help the team, and look like excellent offensive pieces.
The Mariners’ big league club also has some enticing pieces for the future.
Their best offensive weapon is Mitch Haniger, with a .250/.318/.472 line and 34 home runs.
Ty France has hit a solid .293/.366/.446 with 17 blasts, while Kyle Seager has 35 dingers.
J.P. Crawford is a solid glove and a decent bat, while outfielder Kyle Lewis, the reigning Rookie of the Year in the American League, will return to full health in 2022.
Most of those players are controlled long-term, except for Seager, who has a $15 million club option, and Haniger, who has an arbitration year left.
In the end, and while people didn’t like it at first and Mariners players didn’t understand it, getting rid of two months of Kendall Graveman for four years and two months of Abraham Toro was the right move.
All in all, there is some present and lots of future in the Mariners organization.
Of these 6 #Mariners prospects, 5 are in AA. Only Marte is lower-level (High A)
I expect all 5 to compete for MLB spots during Spring Training.
Hope at least 2 win MLB spots for 2022.
Fingers-crossed🤞at least 1 is a legit ROY candidate. https://t.co/CMf2fa3loj— Fastballs&Curves (@TomSeaver41) September 16, 2021
They have, at long last, managed to build a long-term powerhouse.
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