The Mariners have agreed to a minor league contract with free-agent corner infielder Colin Moran, reports Kiley McDaniel of ESPN (Twitter link). He’ll be invited to Major League Spring Training.
Moran, 30, spent the 2022 season with the Reds after signing a one-year deal in early March. Cincinnati, however, cut the former Astro and Pirate loose after he appeared in 42 games and posted a lackluster .211/.305/.376 batting line in 128 plate appearances.
In parts of four seasons with the Pirates (2018-21), Moran was a roughly average hitter, turning in a combined .269/.331/.419 batting line with 44 home runs, 71 doubles and a pair of triples in 1527 plate appearances. At times, particularly in the shortened 2020 season, it’s looked as though the former No. 6 overall draft pick might have more in the tank.
Moran posted a massive 91.9 mph average exit velocity in 2020 and put a whopping 47.2% of his batted balls in play at 95 mph or more. He belted 10 home runs in just 200 plate appearances that season and posted career-best marks in slugging percentage (.472) and ISO (.225). That now looks like an outlier, however, as his batted-ball data since that time has fallen back in line with his solid but unspectacular career rates.
The Mariners have a pair of right-handed-hitting corner infielders in third baseman Eugenio Suarez and first baseman Ty France. Both rank among the Mariners’ most productive hitters and are likely to be in the lineup regardless of matchup, but Moran could feasibly make the club as a bench option and spell either in the case of injury or on days where the Mariners want to load up as many lefties as possible against a right-hander with particularly pronounced platoon splits. He could also step into the lineup at designated hitter from time to time.
Moran has been primarily a first baseman and designated hitter over the past two seasons, but he has more than 2000 career innings at the hot corner and has still spent more time there than anywhere else on the diamond. If he doesn’t crack the Opening Day roster and if his deal doesn’t contain a spring opt-out (relatively common for veterans of this status), he could head to Triple-A Tacoma and give the Mariners some depth.
Making those October baseball moves.
Except for these little business as usual moves, the Mariners are finished adding players. Maybe after the season gets rolling we will something more significant, but not until then.
(just my humble opinion of course)
You said that before the Pollock signing. I think they still add a rp and probably another bat. JD is itching for a trade!
Rick, it is true that the Pollock signing surprised me.
But then all I claim to be is just an old-timer who has followed the game for a million years.
Anyway, there are too many self-styled “experts” and some of them have really elaborate thoughts. Stevil is one. If we take the experts too seriously it stops being fun.
Maybe your thnking is right
I like his pedigree and track record, in that he has seen some action. Jerry sure loves to seek out former first round picks…
I’m hoping anyway. I really thought the cherry on top was going to Brandon Belt. Would have been exactly what they needed. Need someone in case France goes down. And it will happen with how many times he gets hit. Maybe Toronto offered every day at bats between 1st and DH. Something Seattle probably couldn’t guarantee.
Selah, $9.3 million was too much for that guy with shoddy knees. I agree with you in theory but not at that price point.
Good luck. He wasn’t the player we thought we were getting. He’s pretty much done.
Yeah, counting on this guy to be anything more than a 2-day-a-week bench player is asking for trouble. That being said, the Mariners didn’t have a good option for corner infield so it’s worth taking a look in spring training.
I don’t think they want him for more than two days a week. He might spell both corners at best. Plus as a minor league signing it’s very low risk.
He is nothing else than injury depth for Eugenio Suarez and Ty France. If the aforementioned players stay healthy next year I’ll be surprised to see Moran in 2 games a month
More business as usual.
I hope he rediscovers some semblance of his hitting stroke in Seattle. He at least used to be a fairly clutch hitter with occasional pop as a Pirate. But be forewarned, he’s a DH. His hands are fine when he gets to the ball but he has the range of a telephone pole and the speed of of a snail; some referred to him as “Column” Moran during his Pirate days. He might be the slowest non-catcher in the league.
Slower than Winker?
Santana was slower than Winker.
Moran should serve as insurance until whenever his likely opt-out is triggered.
I think that if someone could coax Moran to shave his beard, he’d be a speed demon. Food would taste better. The air would smell better
one of my all time favorite pirates. sleeper if a DH against righties. best of luck Colin.
Good description of him, and though I wouldn’t call him a favorite of mine, I would agree that he was a “likable” player. Quietly went about his business and played hard every day.
Good to hear although the only reason he would make the team is if he can give France and Geno a day off occasionally.
I’m good with that.
DAmn! Who WONT the Mariners sign? The lines of players taking infield in the spring will be tremendous
There is an on going attempt to resign Dan Vogelbach that should place Moran in Tacoma.
Another ex-Red to the Mariners…
Yawn
Jake Lamb>Colin Moran
Ouch
FanGraphs and Steamer project Jake Lamb and Colin Moran with 2023 wRC+ and WAR of 93 and 0..0 each.
Lamb is two years older than Moran.
Man, you don’t have to rub it in.
Vinny Nittoli is available again…
Here’s what you’re getting with Moran:
1. He has no athleticism.
2. He can’t move his feet in playing defense or base-running. Hence his nickname in Pittsburgh of Column Moran.
3. A zero on the personality scale. He literally has a deer in headlights stare. Very quiet, won’t add anything to clubhouse camradrie.
4. He is a decent hitter. But cannot score from second except maybe on a gapper.
He’s likely to be in AAA on a playoff contending MLB team.