SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 02: A gold Florida necklace sits over the Mariners logo on the jersey of Mallex Smith #0 in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at T-Mobile Park on April 2, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2-1. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is rapidly approaching. With that being said, it is time to make predictions for each team heading into the 2021 season following a 2020 pandemic-shortened campaign.
The Seattle Mariners have unanswered questions in all areas of the game that will probably prevent them from making a postseason run in 2021. Missing the postseason will bring their playoff drought to 20 years. The Mariners have never played in a World Series and have played postseason baseball four times in 44 seasons. Looking onto 2021, there are a multitude of concerns that will probably prevent the team from finishing the season with a winning record.
Here are Seattle’s projected starters.
During the offseason, the Mariners signed starters Chris Flexen and James Paxton. They also signed reliever Ken Giles and Keynan Middleton. Another reliever, Rafael Montero, was acquired via trade. He is the favorite to be the team’s closer this season.
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Regarding the Mariners’ starting pitching, the rotation is below average, and hope for the future lies with young pitching prospects and their development. Seattle’s bullpen has potential if Montero can stay healthy, but new acquisition Ken Giles will not pitch this season after having Tommy John surgery.
Looking at Seattle’s offense, Kyle Lewis and Kyle Seager are solid, but the real difference maker will be outfielder Mitch Haniger if he can bounce back after an injury-ridden 2020. With all of this in mind, it seems likely that the Mariners will finish at the bottom of the standings in the American League.
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