Entering Spring Training, the Mariners were slated to roll out Mallex Smith in center field and Kyle Lewis in left, but there was little clarity regarding right field following a series of injuries that have left Mitch Haniger without a timetable to return to game action. Jake Fraley, Braden Bishop, Jose Siri and veteran non-roster invitees Carlos Gonzalez and Collin Cowgill were among the team’s options to step into the void created by Haniger’s absence.
Fast forward a few weeks, and the team’s situation has trended toward a resolution. Siri was just claimed off waivers by the Giants earlier this afternoon, the Mariners also announced that Bishop was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma. Both struggled in Major League camp with the Mariners — Siri going 2-for-12 with a homer but seven strikeouts and Bishop going 1-for-11 with a pair of walks and five punchouts. (As Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times tweets, Bishop has struggled to return to form after having his spleen removed early last summer.)
At this point, Fraley appears to be the favorite to open the year in right field. MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer spoke with Seattle skipper Scott Servais about the 24-year-old, whom the organization acquired alongside Smith in the trade that sent catcher Mike Zunino to the Rays. “I like where Jake is at,” Servais said of Fraley. “There’s still room for growth. … But he comes to work every day. He’s about as serious as anybody in that clubhouse. He knows what he wants to get done every day.”
Fraley got his feet wet in the big leagues last season, although he went just 6-for-40 in his first MLB cup of coffee. That small sample shouldn’t overshadow a huge year between Double-A and Triple-A, however, as Fraley’s combined .298/.365/.545 slash is eye-catching (particularly considering the pitcher-friendly nature of the Double-A Texas League). Fraley appeared in 99 games in the minor leagues (427 plate appearances), but he still racked up 19 home runs, 27 doubles, five triples and 22 stolen bases. Thus far in Spring Training, he’s 6-for-26 with a pair of homers, a pair of doubles and a steal. He’s punched out in eight of his 29 plate appearances but also drawn three walks.
Gonzalez and Cowgill remain in the mix, but it seems unlikely that either would secure a starting job. The Mariners have every reason to get a look at Fraley in a regular role against big league pitching, considering they control him through at least the 2025 season. Gonzalez could be a bench bat and potential fallback option in the event that Fraley struggles early, but the Mariners appear intent on trotting out a young lineup and evaluating their controllable candidates. With uber-prospects Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez looming behind the current crop of outfielders, this is the best time to get a look at Fraley and other currently MLB-ready options.
It’s also possible — and perhaps likely — that neither CarGo nor Cowill breaks camp with the club. Divish tweets that the Mariners could carry both Tim Lopes and Dylan Moore on the Opening Day roster, using one as a fourth outfielder in that scenario. That’d keep with the team’s evaluation-focused modus operandi in 2020, although it’s worth noting that Moore exited today’s Cactus League game after being hit on the wrist by a fastball. Initial x-rays were negative, but his status is one to keep an eye on at the moment.
The helmsman steered, the ship moved on;
Yet never a breeze up-blew;
The mariners all ‘gan work the ropes,
Where they were wont to do;
They raised their limbs like lifeless tools—
We were a ghastly crew.
Nice.
Lmao… I like it
‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1834
The only competition they will see
Fraley is a seroius sleeper prospect i think he could be a seriously good leadoff hitter
Seriously
Are you serious?
No, I’m Richard.
yeah. he had a rough debut last year, but he’s hit well for average and has stolen a fair few bases since his stint in the ABL.
I wouldn’t mind seeing CarGo on the roster for a month or so if Dylan Moore misses time.
Mariners outfield will underwhelm in 2020. They don’t have enough pitching depth either. Too many holes. 80 wins max.
The goal is 75 wins so 80 wins would be awesome in a rebuild year with a ton of rookies playing
You’re also looking at a vastly improved defense. Plus defenders at every position. 3 cfs(Lewis, Fraley, Smith) out there at all times will help build the young starters’ confidence.
Lewis is by no means a CFer. He could be a a plus corner defender, but he is too slow to be a CF in any regular capacity.
I think they are absolutely moving in the right direction with guys like White and Sheffield being relied upon heavily this year. Feast or famine.
I’m not sold on the outfield at all.
Lewis and Fraley have a good shot to be average or better. If they want to stay on the team they need to play well and fast. If Kelenic and Rodriguez progress again like they did last year there won’t be room for everyone. Smith gets traded if he his obp is anywhere near .350 at the trade deadline imo
I don’t think “80 wins” and “with a ton of rookies playing” belong in the same sentence.
That’s why I said it would be awesome. I didn’t say it would be likely 😉
i mean, surely the expectations arent that high anyway? as much as these guys have talent, theyre fairly raw and Mallex is terribly wild.
It’s funny you say that. Bc soon the OF of
LF Rodriguez or Haniger
CF Kelenic
RF Lewis
Might be up there with the best in baseball
Angels
LF Jo Adel
CF Mike Trout
RF Brandon Marsh
Braves
LF Ronald Acuna
CF Cristian Pache
RF Drew Waters
Dodgers
LF Pollack/Pederson
CF Cody Bellinger
RF Mookie Betts
Those are just a few potential outfields that I think far outshine the Mariners. Mariners will definitely be good, but I wouldn’t consider that the best by any means.
@Metsfan22 said MIGHT be up there, didn’t say was. Does nobody read before responding, LOL. And currently, only 1 of those 3 options you listed actually exists (Dodgers) the others are future outfield trios as was the post you responded to. Most of those prospects have yet to play a major league game
1. Yea, he said might. I showed him that I believed his “might” was wrong and illustrated why. According to your logic, any wishy-washy statement must be left uncriticized at all times because it made no absolute claim. If I said, “It might rain today,” and then someone showed me reasons why it probably won’t rain today, that would be good information for me to come to a better conclusion.
2. He was projecting the Mariners lineup. So I was projecting these lineups. Makes perfect sense to compare potential projected lineups.
3. “Does nobody read before responding, LOL.” My response to you would be, “Do you think before responding?”
lol at angels OF. Lewis Better than Addell. JROD and Kelenic better than MArsh and Adel.
Again he said “might be up with the best” you know everyone takes about say 5 in this case OF groups. You listed three so if they were in that group his statement would be correct and you proved it. You can give your numbered responses as much as you like doesn’t change the fact that those guys will be somewhere near the top in a few years.
Go with Kelenic and get a full season under his belt before the competitive years start. Fraley can be the 4th OF.
He’s only played 21 games in AA.. I’d put money that he sees 0 games in the MLB this season. Doesn’t make sense for his development and for the team; they’d want to control him as long as possible. The mariners not being competitive this year would be a waste of control over him.
Kelenic is ready to be a big leaguer right now- have you watched him in ST this year? He hit the ball hard in each PA off Dylan Bundy yesterday and unlike his fellow Ms hitters layed off some really good pitches. I realize it’s only ST but the kid is our arguably our best hitter right now. You could argue Austin Nola or Kyle Seager might be better but Kelenic has a higher ceiling than both. His pitch selection is as good as anyone on the team, his exit velo’s are above avg, he plays good defense and his dedication and approach to his day to day business is wise beyond his years. Unless he gets injured I’d bet my mortgage he makes the big league roster this year.
There’s a very real chance the kid makes the team before his 21st birthday in July. You have to understand there will be very little that will draw the Mariners fans to the park this year. The Mariners are in full on play prospect mode right now. They could’ve waited on Evan White or Shed Long this year but both were guaranteed spots before ST began. As soon as his service time deadline passes there will be talk about him being called up from that day forward. Oh he’s playing in Seattle this year, you can bet on it- 100%
Forgot to mention- Logan Gilbert will be coming this Summer also. Again, you could argue he’s our best SP right now. 4 pitches, a 95-96 mph FB with a 75-76 mph curve and a low 80’s slider. The kid looked great yesterday.
A bench with Austin Nola, Tim Lopes, and (depending on the severity of his HBP injury) Dylan Moore all capable of playing multiple positions is excellent. CarGo being a cheap veteran outfield depth piece is going to work better with a short porch in RF for lefties in T Mobile park than his other stops recently.
Sign puig lmao
Get a grip, it’s the Mariners…