Top 50 Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners began as an expansion team in 1977, and like many expansion teams, they took their lumps in the beginning. It took them until 1995, where they would not make their first playoff until 1995 with a team comprising of Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr. Randy Johnson and Edgar Martinez, the sky seemed to be the limit, and they would make the playoffs in 1997, 2000, and 2001, but they were unable to win the American League Pennant.
To date, the Mariners are the only Major League Baseball team that has not participated in a World Series.
This list is up to the end of the 2023 season.
Note: Baseball lists are based on an amalgamation of tenure, traditional statistics, advanced statistics, playoff statistics, and post-season accolades.
Mike Cameron was the best player of the four that the Cincinnati Reds dealt to Seattle and the Ken Griffey Jr. trade. Cameron could not replace Griffey, but he was a good player who would provide the Mariners with many positive moments.
John Olerud had previously won a Batting Title and two World Series Rings with the Toronto Blue Jays, and he would also have a productive run with the New York Mets. His renaissance would, however, take place in the city of Seattle.
YANKEE STADIUM PREGAME TOUR
Jan 01, 1970
Buy your Tickets to see Yankee Stadium Pregame Tour HERE!
PREGAME GLIMPSE OF GREATNESS
Jan 01, 1970
Buy your Tickets to see Pregame Glimpse of Greatness HERE!
CLASSIC TOUR AT YANKEE STADIUM
Jan 01, 1970
Buy your Tickets to see Classic Tour at Yankee Stadium HERE!
TOURS: TRUIST PARK
Jan 01, 1970
Buy your Tickets to see Tours: Truist Park HERE!
Dan Wilson would play all but 48 of his Games with the Seattle Mariners, and he is regarded as one of the best defensive Catchers in Mariners history.
Raul Ibanez would have three runs with the Seattle Mariners, and considering he was a 36th Round Pick, the fact that he played nineteen seasons in total is a huge accomplishment.
Mike Moore was the first overall draft pick in 1981, and he would debut with the Seattle Mariners the following season as a regular starter. He was 7-14 as a rookie, 6-8 in his second season, and 7-17 in his third season, all of which would see him ERAs over 4.70. While this isn't good, Moore had good stuff, so the Mariners stuck with him, and in 1985, he would win 17 Games against 10 Losses, and dropped his ERA to 3.46. He finished 10th in Cy Young voting and was sixth in bWAR for Pitchers.
Floyd Bannister was with the Seattle Mariners for four seasons, and while he lost more games than he lost (Bannister went (40-50), the fireballer would strike out his fair share of batters.
Mitch Haniger played five seasons in the Majors with Seattle, the team that he will likely be forever most associated with.
Julio Cruz was an original Seattle Mariner, who had been in the California Angels farm system for three years. Cruz saw action immediately as a rookie n 1977, and as a sophomore, he was affixed as their starting Second Baseman. While he was a light hitter (only 17 Home Runs, with a Mariners Slash Line of .243/.327/.307), Cruz was a quick player who knew what to do once he was on base. He would steal 59 Bases in 1978, and would hit the 40 SB mark in the four years after.
Phil Bradley played the first five years of his Major League career with the Seattle Mariners, and it was in the Pacific Northwest where he posted his best numbers.
A World Series Champion as a rookie in 1978 with the New York Yankees, he would be traded two seasons later to the other side of the country and standings when he went to Seattle.
Jeff Nelson was with the Seattle Mariners for three different runs, and while he was a four-time World Series Champion with the New York Yankees, it is with Seattle where he will always be most associated with.
J.P. Crawford was a Philadelphia Phillies draft pick in 2013, and would eventually crack the Phils’ roster in 2017, though his stay in Eastern Pennsylvania, appearing in 71 Games between 2017 & 2018 before he was traded to the Mariners. As a Mariner, Crawford saw more action, eventually becoming a starting Infielder in 2020, where he won the Gold Glove in the shortened season. As play resumed to a full 162 Games, Crawford blossomed with a 160-Hit year (.273 BA), and had 126 Hits in 2022. Last season, Crawford kept the momentem going with an .818 OPS and the league-lead…
J.J. Putz made his Major League debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2003 for three games, and in 2004 and 2005, he had a role in the bullpen appearing in 118 Games. In those two years, Putz was just another arm, but after adding a splitter to his arsenal, and winning the closing job, 2006 would see him reborn.
In terms of infield defensive versatility, Jose Lopez is right at the top of the list for the Seattle Mariners.
Franklin Gutierrez was not a superstar in the Majors, but his best years by far were his time in Seattle.
Very few players have their first two seasons, like Julio Rodriguez. Signed at the age of 16 as an International Free Agent from the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez tore it up in the Minors and was deemed a future superstar by the scouts. He debuted for Seattle as their 2022 Opening Day Centerfielder, and won Rookie of the Month honors in both May and June. J-Rod was proving the scouts right, as this was a five-tool player who joined select company, making the All-Star Game as a rookie. He finished the season with 28 Home Runs, 25 Stolen Bases and an…
Marco Gonzales was a First Round Pick in 2013 by the St. Louis Cardinals, but the Seattle Mariners were able to obtain him in a trade for Tyler O’Neill in the summer of 2017. Gonzales had made it to the Majors by that point, but he had not yet proven himself as a bona fide Starting Pitcher at baseball’s highest level. This would change in the Emerald City.
After four years in the Majors, Brice Bochte would sign with the Seattle Mariners as a Free Agent and went on to have the best run of his career.
Dave Valle made his Major League debut in 1984 with the Seattle Mariners, and he would play for the M's infrequently over the next three seasons before he would play the lion's share at Catcher in 1987.