Playoffs? World Series? Here’s what national media predicts for Seattle Mariners in 2024
After ending a lengthy playoff drought and reaching the postseason in 2022 for the first time in over two decades, the Seattle Mariners were riding high with momentum heading into 2023.
Another playoff appearance was the expectation, at minimum. Talk of a World Series didn’t seem completely far-fetched. But the Mariners sputtered out of the gates and missed the playoffs last season, then watched the division rival Texas Rangers — fueled by an ownership group eager, ready and willing to write checks — win the World Series.
Fortunately for Seattle fans, John Stanton’s ownership group came ready to spend money in the offseason to catch up to the competition. Kidding, of course. That didn’t happen. Seattle’s 2024 payroll is about the same as last year’s and lags far behind division rivals Texas and Houston.
The Mariners did make some compelling moves in free agency though, looking to piece together a lineup that puts the ball into play more often and cuts down on strikeouts. Blossoming superstar Julio Rodríguez is back and shortstop J.P. Crawford is coming off his best season. And there are other reasons for optimism, namely the rotation, which is widely considered one of the best — if not the best — in MLB, assuming everyone stays healthy.
Can the Mariners climb back into the playoff picture this spring? Here’s what the national media predicts for this year’s team.
THE ATHLETIC
Keith Law is high on the Mariners, predicting the Mariners will finish in second place behind Houston with an 87-75 record.
“Seattle didn’t go get a big bopper this winter, which was probably the best move they could have made, instead patching around the edges with the additions of Jorge Polanco, Mitch Haniger, and Mitch Garver, all smaller upgrades and perhaps one with some upside if Haniger plays even 100 games,” he writes.” Julio Rodríguez is likely to be better this year, maybe a lot better, and their rotation will probably be among the top three in the American League. It’d be nice if Gregory Santos pitches most of this year, since they just traded for him about five minutes before the injury, and they’re not getting enough offense out of the infield corners. They’re contenders for the wild card who could sneak into the division title with a little luck and a lot of health.”
ESPN
ESPN’s 26-person panel picked Houston to win the division, although four cast their vote for the Mariners, including Jesse Rogers, who detailed why he likes Seattle this year.
“The Mariners missed out on winning the division last season by just two games, so they were very much on par with the Astros and Rangers,” he writes. “Now, after three consecutive winning seasons, they’re ready to take another step. As usual, Seattle didn’t spend a lot of money in the offseason, but their pickups on offense have a chance to be sneaky good. Jorge Polanco, Mitch Haniger and Mitch Garver provide veteran and playoff experience for a team that needs it. I’m also picking Julio Rodriguez to win MVP.
“But let’s not bury the lede here: Seattle’s strength is on the mound, where they added two more talents in righties Ryne Stanek and Gregory Santos -- though, the latter is sidelined at the moment. The Mariners’ biggest strength is their rotation, and, at least to start the season, it’s the best in the division.”
Eight of 16 voters picked Julio Rodríguez to win AL MVP honors.
“It came down to Soto and Rodriguez for me, too,” wrote Jorge Castillo. “I initially was going to pick Soto -- I also think he’s going to have a monster season playing at Yankee Stadium, capitalizing on that short porch and feeding off playing in New York. But I also think Judge is going to have another MVP-caliber year, which made me wonder if Soto and Judge would actually hurt each other’s chances for the award. That led me to Rodriguez, a young superstar who just about everybody believes will take the next step this season, including me. The Mariners should be really good -- that rotation might be the best in the majors -- and Rodriguez should be the clear best player. That combination made him my pick.”
CBS SPORTS
CBS Sports writer Mike Axisa offered a “bold prediction” for every MLB team in 2024. For the Mariners, he predicts three starting pitchers will reach 200 innings pitched. The starters he think will reach the threshold: Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby.
“They all threw 190-197 innings last season, so saying they’ll each make the jump to 200 innings isn’t that bold, but 200 innings is a big number these days,” Axisa writes. “Only five pitchers threw 200 innings in 2023. Go back 10 years to 2013 and 36 pitchers threw 200 innings. It’s a much different game now. The Mariners have three bona fide workhorses though, and all three will get to 200 innings in 2024. The last team with three 200-inning pitchers was the 2018 Astros (Gerrit Cole, Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander).”
YAHOO SPORTS
Four of the six writers on Yahoo’s panel picked the Houston Astros to win the division. One picked the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers. One brave soul, Jack Baer, picked the Mariners to win the division. They’re also bullish on Seattle’s “fearsome” rotation.
Baer also picked Julio Rodríguez will win the American League MVP.
BLEACHER REPORT
BR writer Zachary D. Rymer is all in on the Mariners. Seriously, all in. He predicts the Mariners will beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games in the World Series.
“This, friends, would be a David vs. Goliath matchup of a different sort,” he writes.
And he’s taking David.
“The Mariners are also a solid bet for a 90-ish-win season after spending the winter renovating their offense,” he writes.
USA TODAY
Gabe Lacques and Steve Gardner picked the Mariners to win the AL West. They also have Seattle going to the franchise’s first World Series, but losing the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gardner and Stephen Borelli picked Rodriguez to win the AL MVP this year and Bob Nightengale and Jesse Yomtov predict Seattle opening day starter Luis Castillo will win the AL Cy Young.
This story was originally published March 28, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Playoffs? World Series? Here’s what national media predicts for Seattle Mariners in 2024."
