The Seattle Mariners entered the offseason with a lot of questions about its lineup heading into 2025.

The general perception was that the Mariners needed to upgrade at second and third base while finding another first baseman/designated hitter to pair with Luke Raley.

Those needs only became amplified when Seattle declined second baseman Jorge Polanco’s club option and non-tendered third baseman Josh Rojas.

One thing that isn’t in doubt is that the Mariners are set at catcher, and that they boast one of the best in the league in the position — Cal Raleigh.

Raleigh’s fourth major league season (2024) was the best of his career. He caught more innings than any other catcher (1,122) for one of the best starting rotations in baseball. He also set the MLB record for the most home runs by a catcher through their first four years in the league (93).

He set the franchise’s single-season records for home runs (34) and RBIs (100) by a catcher.

Raleigh was recognized across the league for the season he had by winning Gold Glove and Platinum Glove honors and he was named a finalist for a Silver Slugger.

It’s been a successful 2024 for Raleigh. And FanGraphs’ ZiPS projections has Raleigh repeating his success in 2025.

FanGraphs projections predicts Raleigh finishing with the second-highest fWAR (FanGraphs WAR) on the team in 2025 at 4.9. That is just about one fWAR off from franchise star Julio Rodriguez’s projections.

FanGraphs has Raleigh finishing with a .230 batting average to go with 28 home runs and 81 RBIs in 2025.

Based on the projections, Raleigh will be slightly more effective as an overall hitter while keeping similar power numbers. Despite having 34 home runs and 100 RBIs, he hit just .220 in 2024.

FanGraphs was favorable to Seattle’s lineup as a whole. But if the ZiPS projections hold true, then Raleigh and Rodriguez will likely be the highlights of the offense in 2025.

NEW MARINERS COACH TALKS ABOUT AGGRESSIVE HITTING PHILOSOPHY: The Seattle Mariners new coach went on the Foul Territory Podcast on Tuesday to talk about his role with the team following his decade-long stint with the Atlanta Braves. CLICK HERE

MARINERS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE 2025 COACHING STAFF: The Seattle Mariners confirmed reports that a long-time and well-accomplished Atlanta Braves hitting coach will be joining the coaching staff for 2025. CLICK HERE

POPULAR BASEBALL SITE PROJECTS BOUNCE BACK 2025 FOR JULIO RODRIGUEZ: The Seattle Mariners face of the franchise could be in for a bounce-back 2025 per FanGraphs’ ZiPS projections. CLICK HERE

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE.

The Jets (3-8) are back in action as they come off the bye week to host the Seahawks (6-5) in Week 13 of the NFL season.

Despite having the past week off, things only got worse for Gang Green, with rumors circulating of Aaron Rodgers wanting to play next year but not for the Jets, and owner Woody Johnson reportedly ready to bench the four-time NFL MVP all the way back on Sept. 30 following the team’s loss to the Broncos in Week 4 being talked out of the idea by the front office.

With the dysfunction seemingly at an all-time high around the organization that has already fired its head coach and general manager in season, the Jets have to find a way to take positives over the final six games down the stretch.

In come the Seahawks, who are currently atop the NFC West following back-to-back division wins over the 49ers and Cardinals.

It’s a revenge game for Seahawks QB Geno Smith, who was drafted by the Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft and spent the first four years of his career in the Meadowlands before heading to the Giants and Chargers for a couple years until he found a permanent home in the Pacific Northwest and became the full-time starter for the franchise in 2022.

Our prognosticators throughout the season are: Art Stapleton (Giants/NFL writer, NorthJersey.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports betting analyst/columnist, NorthJersey.com), Steve Edelson (columnist, APP.com), Vince Mercogliano (Rangers/NHL columnist, lohud.com), Brian Marron (digital producer, NorthJersey.com), Chris Iseman (Rutgers writer, NorthJersey.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, Asbury Park Press/APP.com), and Dave Rivera (sports editor, USA TODAY Northeast/NorthJersey.com).

Here are our staff standings going into Week 13:

Bob Jordan: 8-3

Bert Bainbridge and Brian Marron: 6-5

Steve Edelson: 5-5

Vincent Mercogliano: 4-5

Art Stapleton and Dave Rivera: 4-7

Chris Iseman: 3-7

Here are our staff predictions for Jets vs. Seahawks in Week 13 on Sunday from MetLife Stadium:

Bert Bainbridge

The pick: Seahawks 24, Jets 17

Here’s why: Even though the Jets come out of this one fresh off of a bye week, it still won’t be enough to get the job done as Smith stays undefeated (3-0) against the team that drafted him with Seattle staying in the dogfight that is the NFC West while Gang Green continues to move closer to a fifth consecutive double digit loss season.

Art Stapleton

The pick: Seahawks 23, Jets 20

Here’s why: Seattle hit a lull last month, but Geno Smith is sparking their resurgence again. The Seahawks have another former Jet (and Giant) who played really well last week in Leonard Williams, and they can take a big step forward in the NFC West race with a victory here. With all the talk about Aaron Rodgers’ future, the facts are these: he has not played well this season and there are no signs of his old MVP form. The eventual Hall of Famer just looks old.

Chris Iseman

The pick: Seahawks 27, Jets 10

Here’s why: It’s unfortunate for Jets fans that the team’s back from its bye week. It was probably a welcome break from having to endure the dumpster fire. But I’m sure things will be much better from this point going forward. Right?

Bob Jordan

The pick: Seahawks 21, Jets 7

Here’s why: Troubling trend: The Jets have been yielding 45-ish rushing yards in the first quarters of their recent games.

Brian Marron

The pick: Seahawks 27, Jets 21

Here’s why: In a game Seattle needs to stay in pole position for a playoff berth, expect the Seahawks to have no issues scoring on the Jets’ porous defense.

Dave Rivera

The pick: Seahawks 23, Jets 20

Here’s why: Would Jets fans rather have Geno Smith over Aaron Rodgers right now? Geno shows his former team that good things are ahead for his Seahawks as they look to capture the NFC West title. Meanwhile, the season continues to get longer for the Jets.

BetMGM is the premier destination for sportsbook odds throughout the year.

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During the last month of the season, there was an argument to be had that the Seattle Mariners offense was one of the most improved in baseball.

For most of the season, the lineup struggled with strikeouts, inconsistency and injury. There wasn’t a set lineup until August.

The offense ended up leading the league in strikeouts (1,625), but improved after hitting coach Edgar Martinez and Dan Wilson was hired on Aug. 22.

Seattle ranked within the top 10 of the league in several offensive statistics after Martinez and Wilson took the reins. But it was reported that Martinez wouldn’t be back with the team in a full-time capacity in 2025, leaving the team looking for its fourth hitting coach in two seasons.

The Mariners found Martinez’s replacement in the form of decade-long Atlanta Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer. Seitzer will be reporting to Martinez. The latter will oversee the hitting program as Senior Director of Hitting Strategy. He’ll travel with the team in a limited capacity, per reports.

Seitzer went on the Foul Territory podcast on Tuesday to talk about his new role and what his approach will be with Seattle.

“I’m in the beginning stages of digging in on these guys. But just going off what Edgar’s told me and (the) front office when we’ve had conversations through the interview process and after I got the job, some of the things they were saying is just Edgar got them in the middle of the field and using the off-gap. Getting back on the fastball, there was a lot of sitting on pitches, taking percentage of counts, or percentage of pitches in certain counts, and then kind of selling out to that. … Edgar just got them hunting the fastball, staying in the middle of the field the other way and just (being) aggressive. And for me, that’s my No. 1 M.O.. You got to have hitters that are aggressive. But the more you have a plan of where you’re hunting that fastball and trying to stay in the middle of the field — it helps with timing, helps with recognition, helps repeat that good swing path to stay inside the ball more consistently.”

Martinez was praised by players like JP Crawford and Julio Rodriguez for his simplified approach at the plate. Martinez will have a say in how the hitting program is constructed throughout the season. But based on Seitzer’s comments, it seems like his philosophy falls in line with Martinez’s.

Seitzer coached two National League MVPs in Freddie Freeman (2020) and Ronald Acuna (2023) and his offenses averaged a ninth-place finish in batting average in his decade in Atlanta.

If that success translates to the Pacific Northwest, then the Mariners’ offense will be much more effective in 2025.

MLB INSIDER FLOATS POSSIBLE INFIELD FITS FOR THE MARINERS: The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal discussed possible moves that would net the Seattle Mariners high-tier infielders. CLICK HERE

MARINERS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE 2025 COACHING STAFF: The Seattle Mariners confirmed reports that a long-time and well-accomplished Atlanta Braves hitting coach will be joining the coaching staff for 2025. CLICK HERE

POPULAR BASEBALL SITE PROJECTS BOUNCE BACK 2025 FOR JULIO RODRIGUEZ: The Seattle Mariners face of the franchise could be in for a bounce-back 2025 per FanGraphs’ ZiPS projections.CLICK HERE

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE.