The Mariners announced that they have non-tendered four players: infielder Josh Rojas, infielder/outfielder Sam Haggerty, as well as right-handers JT Chargois and Austin Voth. Haggerty’s non-tender was reported earlier by Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 (X link).
Rojas, 30, has had an up-and-down career thus far. With the Diamondbacks in 2021 and 2022, he slashed .266/.345/.401 for a wRC+ of 106, indicating he was 6% better than league average over that span. He also stole 32 bases while bouncing around to the three infield positions to the left of first base as well as the outfield corners.
But his performance dipped badly in 2023, as he slashed .228/.292/.296 in 59 games for the Snakes that year. The Mariners then tried to buy low on him, acquiring him as part of the July 2023 trade headlined by Paul Sewald.
Initially, it seemed like the buy-low move might have worked, as Rojas slashed .272/.321/.400 for a 105 wRC+ in 46 games after the trade. The M’s gave him a $3.1MM salary for 2024 and hoped that he could keep it going, but this year’s line of .225/.304/.336 led to a wRC+ of just 91. He still stole 10 bases and bounced all over the diamond, but the club has decided to go in a different direction. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected Rojas for a bump to $4.3MM next year, though the M’s clearly weren’t willing to bring him back at that price point, sending him to free agency instead.
It’s been reported that the Mariners are looking to upgrade their infield and this further cements that desire. They had already declined a club option on Jorge Polanco and traded away Ty France. Deadline acquisition Justin Turner hit free agency. That means shortstop J.P. Crawford is the only stable portion of the club’s infield mix at present. Luke Raley could get lots of playing time at first base but could also be in the outfield. Players like Dylan Moore, Ryan Bliss, Austin Shenton, Leo Rivas, Samad Taylor or Tyler Locklear could be involved next year but the M’s will surely be looking for external additions in the coming months.
Turning to the others, Haggerty has been a useful part-time players for the Mariners in recent years but he only played eight games in 2024 due to a torn achilles. Voth and Chargois were each entering their final season of club control, so there was no long-term benefit to rostering them in 2025. Voth had a solid 3.69 earned run average this year but with a .236 batting average on balls in play. Chargois had a 2.23 ERA this year but is a journeyman who’s about to turn 34. Haggerty was projected for a salary of $900K, Voth $2.2MM and Chargois $1.7MM, but the M’s have balked at all of those prices and sent those players into free agency instead.
Now this one is really surprising. Rojas is a nice little player. Mariners gotta stop being cheap it’s killing any momentum they attempt to get going.
Rojas was abysmal outside of April. His defense is nice but not worth the black hole in the lineup
He’s at least a good extra infielder who can fill in at multiple positions. And he wasn’t going to make a bunch of money.
The Mariners are being cheap. Again……
That’s what they have Dylan Moore for .
There was room for both. Also Rojas is a lefty bat and the Mariners need lefty bats.
Not if they suck.
Rojas was a 2 win player in 2024. That doesn’t suck.
Mostly correct, Blackpink, although his throws to first were an adventure, to say the least. As an M’s fan, I’m tired of all the platooning and Rojas was given every opportunity to win the job. He just never did. At this point, maybe they’re just looking at the two Kims (one for 2B and the other for 3B), with Bliss or Moore filling in until the ex-Padre Kim is healthy.
Rojas was going to get a contract that a backup infielder would get. I just don’t see why they wouldn’t keep him around even if he got less playing time.
I highly doubt the Mariners let Rojas go do they could spend big money on a free agent. We will see what happens.
I’m with you, but there are only 5 bench hitters and one is a catcher, probably Garver. Rojas is a lesser talented Moore (who is by no means a hitter, but excellent fielder at 7 positions). 2 will likely be outfielders (Raley and Haniger, unless they eat Haniger’s contract). Rojas is 30 (not getting better). I’m thinking the other two bench hitters aren’t currently on the roster. This is where Jerry dumpster dives and tells us all about his neglected gem of a find. Like Rojas himself.
I can’t imagine Cole Young is ready, so sign the two Kims, make the biggest play for Sasaki, and trade a SP and prospects for a slugging starting 1B under 40.
Usually four bench hitters, teams typically carry the maximum 13 pitchers on their 26-man (as the M’s did most of not all of last season).
You’re right. Makes it even less necessary for them to resign Rojas. Thanks for the correction.
The Mariners didn’t let Rojas go so they could go spend more on free agents.
Im still laughing my butt off, thanks
So… uhh… who’s gonna play 2nd and 3rd?
Dylan Moore full time starter? Jason vosler and *gulp* luis urias?
I hope it’s gonna be hyeseong Kim and ha seong Kim… but money is expensive
Cole Young will be promoted by May to play 2B full time or split time with Ryan Bliss.
Bliss is terrible v. RHP
I’ll take that bet.
He’s 20 and struggled in AA.
Bliss isn’t likely getting any kind of regular or semi-regular role, either.
Cole will not be up my May. Go look at his numbers in AA. If you think he’s ready for the major leagues then you’re out of your mind. He won’t be up by May. Most he gets this year is a September call up. I swear that most Mariners fans are just as clueless as the front office. Everyone thinks a 20 year-old guy who struggled in AA is ready to start and will be up this year. He won’t. Plain and simple. There were numerous prospects in the mariners system that had much better year at the plate than he did last year.
Take it easy! Not every fan has time to research every prospect. We all miss the mark now and then.
We hear a lot about Cole being the future, so naturally some of us are going to wonder how soon that will be.
Worth noting, there aren’t any clear internal options that were better and MLB-ready. I know many people are high on Bliss, but I don’t think he’s a consideration, I think he’s seen as AAA depth.
young absolutely won’t be ready on opening day so who’s our starter?
An external option.
If it were my call, I’d try to get Bohm for third and Madrigal & Moncada for second and depth.
They’d fit the budget.
Not Young.
hahahahahaha, another laugh my butt off comment, 2 within about 10 posts. Making my tummy hurt like Haingers nuts
It’s funny that we are looking at garbage top prospects like madrigal or moncada as our starting solutions
Urias and Vosler are gone too, both previously elected free agency.
I think Luís was DFA’d
this is how you make space to sign or trade for players. Their 40 man roster was full and they non tendered players to open space. They may even plan to resign as a lot of time those negotiations happen beforehand. I like Rojos but he was a weakness in the lineup as an everyday player and they have Moore as a utility to play everywhere as well as backups at every infield position on the 40 man. This isnt a move that will hurt them.
The 40 wasn’t full before these nontenders. They were at 38 yesterday.
Not true. Roster is currently at 37 after these non tender and was at 40 before. Chargois was DFA’d to make room for Shenton then Haggerety, Rojos, and Voth were non tendered bringing roster down to 37.
Urias is gone.
They pick up garbage players for cheap as usual, but there be plenty of giveaway nights!
Money is expensive…but the Mariners have a license to print money. Taxpayer funded stadium, own their own RSN, casual fans pack the stadium regularly for the “experience”, got to see which boat will win the race don’t ya know, annually listed as the most profitable MLB team, etc. So there’s that.
I know your point is that they’re cheap. I couldn’t agree more.
good comment
Urias is already gone.
Urías is thankfully gone
Oh I don’t know… Jerry would reup Luis if he can get him for a slave wage…
Assuming we don’t trade our arbitration players that get raises I have no idea how much money could be spent after that
He would not do the infield coach’s training routine…he is like Winkler with less skills
Yes. Two players that are not on the team anymore…
Oh, okay, now we need a third baseman. Like there are so many of them available. Third basemen grow on trees don’t ya know?
Wouldn’t mind a trade for Brendan Donovan for the right price.
I don’t think Donovan is available until mid season at the earliest. And even then I doubt it. I agree he’s a good fit for the Mariners.
Cardinal fans have been trying to trade Donovan to M’s for years now. Throwing out Donovan for Gilbert then Kirby and I’m sure you’ll see Woo or Miller now They talk how great he is but have been wanting to get rid of him because really he’s a slightly better DMo. Utility player. M’s should use Castillo to Baltimore to improve their team as with Burnes leaving they are needing an ace and have plenty to trade. Mountcastle, Westburg, and plenty of prospects.
Castillo has negative trade value. Donovan for Miller could make some sense but Miller has nasty home road splits.
Miller is far more valuable than Donovan. We’ll stick with D-Mo.
Miller is a great pitcher in Seattle and barely a number 5 on the road.
Mariners fans keep talking about how great their pitching is and how they don’t want to trade it. But the team isn’t good enough.
They needed a third baseman before they non-tendered Rojas!
Di pot o
El trader
As Ross Gellar says….”Fine by me!”
DFAing 2 roster regulars (Rojas & Voth) is wild; let’s see what they have cooking.
Voth is very replaceable. Rojas is surprising. Now they need a platoon 2B/3B to pair with Moore, a fulltime 2B/3B and a 1B/DH.
Based on rumors so far, that would mean Carlos Santana, Hye Seung Kim and Yoan Moncada. Color me not excited.
You thinking getting rid of Voth as wild is wild. He was trash. It’s addition by subtraction.
He wasn’t trash – 3.7 ERA, 4.1 FIP -, but was pretty much the definition of replaceable. Same went for Chargois whose ERA looked nice, but had a crazy high strand rate which suggested massive regression was looming.
And why get rid of Chargois? He had a terrific ERA last year. He made 1.29 million. I know his FIP was bad but come on this is peanuts for a potentially good reliever.
Gave up more hard hit balls than a batting cage.
He had a 98% strand rate. If that falls to a more normal 75% rate, his ERA would be a disaster. That’s why his FIP was terrible. He also doesn’t have particularly good stuff for the bullpen.
I thought the GM said they wanted to platoon rojas and Moore
Must be all in on Bregman. /s
Ugh, no thanks
Doubtful. If they sign a free agent, it’s more likely going to be a 1-3 year deal. Bregman should do a lot better than that.
I’m not so sure Seattle would want him, anyway. His recent history is a little shaky and many fans are still bitter over the cheating scandal.
I think they’re more likely to trade for a third baseman or sign a rebound candidate, like Moncada. Madrigal is now available as well.
You mentioned fans being bitter over Trashsstrohs scandal, which is true, but there are so many casual fans in Seattle, more so than most teams have, do you really think Dipoto or Bregman would even realistically consider that?
In any case, I’m not suggesting the Mariners will try to sign him. They won’t. But the reason will be because they don’t spend money on free agents bats.
The main reason would definitely be because of the money. But I think the extra baggage doesn’t help.
It’s probably an easy pass for Jerry and Justin.
For the record, I’d welcome him.
I would too!
Speaking of casual Mariners fans, in 2023 they would boo Dusty Baker right along with Bregman and Altuve. SMH wrong manager my dudes. Embarrassing.
No thanks to rebound guys, imo
Jerry gets Bregman I won’t root for the m’s again. Screw that guy. Garbage human.
I think that was mentioned as a worst-case scenario. Without stating so up front.
Addition by subtraction
I bet there are a ton of trade candidates we don’t know about
There were no surprises. from Seattle. They simply don’t pay 2-3m for middle-innings relievers and Rojas is a replacement-level platoon bat that would have earned more than Moore.
Haggerty missed 2024, so he obviously wasn’t going to get a contract, but he might be back on a minor-league deal. The organization likes him and they need experienced depth.
Let me correct myself….
Rojas is a replacement-level player. He hit .188/.272/.283 with a 24.3 K% and a 67 wRC+ from mid-May through the end of the season (as a platoon bat). His value was in his defense.
I believe Haggerty is expected in May if all goes to plan.
Yeah, and he has not only had experience, he’s had success. I’d really like to see him back on a minor-league deal.
There are some other solid non-tendered players that could help Seattle. I’m really curious what might happen with a handful of specific players.
Haggerty’s walk-up music was “Theme from the Godfather.” Would really throw some people for a loop. Lol.
Romano, Finnegan, for starters
Is your profile picture Karl? From An Idiot Abroad?
You got it buddy, Ricky Gervais’s best friend. They’ve done a bunch of different comedy specials together. Their podcast from the early 2000’s is classic.
Maybe the M’s are looking at Bohm in Philly. Trader Jerry is on it!
That seems to be the case. Maybe they aren’t sure about his supposed maturity issues
Out of the box question: is this the off-season you trade Cal Raleigh, given that his value has never been higher? Imagine the haul from all the catcherless contenders out there. Is it time to trust Harrison Ford?
I like the premise but don’t see how they can. Dipoto’s shelf life has got to be about up, he has to engineer a playoff run next year or he’s gone, right?
I see no way for the team to trade Cal (the heart & soul of the roster) and get back enough to make the playoffs. The way that Servais got fired and Wilson got installed as the manager makes me think neither Dipoto or Hallander have the autonomy to make such a move, anyways
The playoffs are seeming a lot tougher for the M’s. The Royals and Tigers figure to outspend them again, the Red Sox seem eager to take a step forward and the Rangers should be healthier.
Meanwhile, the Orioles and Guardians should be able to run back most of their team and have young players who should continue to improve. The Rays will be healthier and can never be counted out. The Yankees will spend at least $500m this offseason.
The only team that may get worse above us are the Astros who seem salary limited, so maybe we can sneak a division win at 87 wins…
yeasties, u really think Stanton is going to can his puppet?
Jerry just got an extension, He is doing everything ownership wants him/expects him to do.
He could be the next Cashman but with no rings.
Only way he leaves if he goes on his own terms and we know that aint happening.
Ford isnt ready anyways so Cal is here for 2025 and Jerry has all the power he needs to trade him.
Not saying he will trade him this year but Jerry iis locked into his job.
Jerry could miss the playoff for like 8yrs and still get a extension…….oh wait!
Sad to say, Rojas was just a guy.
As a very close follower and fan of the M’s I was a little surprised at this decision but as I am trying to be positive this off season, I really want this to mean that they have a great plan to get a difference making 2b and 3b and an additional 1B through trades and free agency. PLEASE also add a back end bullpen arm!
I don’t get it. Folks need to ask themselves if the player leaving is a championship level player. Take Rojas…I like him. I rooted hard for him. He had a great month to start the season and played stellar defense. But seriously, was he a huge loss? He didn’t hit for 5 months. He had a fair shot. He’s a backup or platoon player. He showed us all that. When players show you who they are, you should believe them. Now, as a team, get better. Folks (in the Romper Room) are very shortsighted. They look at the loss of a decent player and panic because there isn’t an obvious replacement on the roster…and they liked that guy. He was easy to root for and he was our guy. One good month here and a player becomes a folk hero somehow. Ask Taylor Motter how he’s doing. There are still fans who are upset that we got rid of him.