The Seattle Mariners acquired Jesse Winker along with other players from the Cincinnati Reds in an offseason trade.
And while he hasn’t been as valuable as the M’s would have wanted by now, he remains an important piece of what the team is trying to do this year and next.
That’s why the organization did its homework and made sure he is already under contract for this year and next: they reached an agreement for a two-year, $14.5 million extension.
Source: Outfielder Jesse Winker and the Seattle Mariners have agreed to a two-year, $14.5 million contract to avoid arbitration. Winker, who would have been arbitration eligible next season, will be a free agent at the end of 2023.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) June 16, 2022
The pact covers 2022 and 2023 for Winker, his two remaining arbitration seasons.
The player and the team won’t have to go to a hearing anymore: they already know how much the player will make.
Essentially, the Mariners and Winker set his price for his arbitration years.
Now, he is set to enter free agency after the 2023 campaign.
Seattle Needs Winker’s 2021 Version To Appear
Winker had a fantastic 2021 performance: he hit .305/.394/.556 with 24 home runs with the Reds.
This year has been rough, however.
In 264 plate appearances, he is hitting .214/.326/.308 with just four homers.
The lack of power is especially concerning: the Mariners probably planned their 2022 season counting with better numbers from players like Winker and Jarred Kelenic.
Kelenic is currently in Triple-A, and Winker keeps slumping.
The Mariners outfield is good and deep, so they have been able to find some solutions, but if they are serious about making the postseason, they badly need 2021 Winker to make his appearance.
This team needs to produce runs, and Winker’s left-handed bat, when he is on, is a very productive hitter, as he showed the world last year.
Will he ever get going at the plate this year?
He still has some time.
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