Mitch Haniger Interested In Returning To Seattle

Ryan Divish of The Seattle Occasions stories that outfielder Mitch Haniger is hoping to return to the Mariners in 2023. Haniger, 32, is a pending free agent following a season the place he slashed .246/.308/.429 in simply 57 video games as he was restricted by ankle and again accidents all year long. The Mariners, for his or her half, have been effusive of their reward of Haniger, however haven’t publicly dedicated by hook or by crook concerning a attainable reunion.

Divish opines that Seattle could prolong Haniger a qualifying supply, and notes that Haniger would possible settle for one if provided. The Mariners tagging Haniger with a QO would register as a shock given his age, intensive harm historical past, and the depressed market that low-OBP, power-hitting nook outfielders like Haniger have present in free company lately. Moreover, Seattle is loaded on expertise within the outfield, with Jarred Kelenic, Kyle Lewis, Taylor Trammell, and Jesse Winker among the many choices already beneath crew management for 2023 to man the outfield alongside celebrity Julio Rodriguez. With a transparent gap at second base and excessive greenback contracts allotted to the likes of Robbie Ray and Luis Castillo, it’s attainable that re-signing Haniger is probably not the perfect use of Seattle’s assets this offseason.

Then again, Haniger is a beloved crew chief who has been with the Mariners for six seasons, which makes him the longest-tenured participant in a clubhouse that has continuously undergone roster churn lately. Moreover, he’s been a dependable contributor offensively at any time when he’s been on the sphere, having posted above-average seasons by OPS+ each season he’s performed following his rookie 2016 season, when he performed simply 36 video games. Whereas the Mariners actually have a plethora of choices within the outfield getting into subsequent season, none of them (Rodriguez apart) include Haniger’s monitor file of productiveness. Winker is coming off a down season, Kelenic has struggled within the majors regardless of his prospect pedigree, Lewis has performed simply 54 video games within the majors since his 2020 Rookie of the 12 months marketing campaign and badly struggled when he was going through main league pitching in 2022, and Trammell could also be higher suited as a bench bat than an day by day participant.

Given all this, a reunion with Haniger may make sense for Seattle, although maybe not on the degree a $19.65MM QO would require. Divish suggests a multiyear deal within the $10-12MM AAV vary may make sense, and that appears extra believable, although Haniger could should resort to a shorter time period deal given his injury-marred season in 2022.