The Mariners keep finding themselves in the same spot: trying to squeeze a little more out of injured hitters, and paying for it later. Dominic Canzone and Luke Raley are the latest names caught in that cycle, even though both have been producing when they’re in the lineup.
Canzone has been Seattle’s best player by wRC+ this season, sitting at 153, but he has only logged 38 plate appearances since June 16. Raley has been used even less over that stretch, with just 17 plate appearances.
The reason isn’t some mysterious lineup decision from Dan Wilson. Raley is managing a left forearm strain, while Canzone is dealing with a tweaked hamstring.
That hasn’t stopped the Mariners from apparently planning to pencil them in here and there, and that’s where the concern starts. This club has already watched the downside of letting position players push through injuries instead of shutting them down.
Cal Raleigh tried to play through an oblique injury early in the season, and the results haven’t matched his usual standard. His 70 wRC+ this year is a long way from the 161 he posted last season. Brendan Donovan also tried to fight through a groin issue after a hot start, and he’s now been sidelined for more than a month, with a return not expected until after the All-Star Break.
J.P. Crawford, Randy Arozarena, and Rob Refsnyder have gone through similar situations. Refsnyder’s knee issues were out there for weeks before he finally landed on the IL on Monday, and that at least partly helps explain his 24 wRC+ on the season.
For Seattle, the temptation is obvious. Raley and Canzone are giving the lineup real production, and the club is hurting enough offensively that every usable bat feels precious. But Raley has also been close to unplayable at times, with a 15 wRC+ in June across 61 plate appearances.
The Mariners are barely past the halfway point, and the roster already feels stitched together with duct tape. Their backups may not offer much flash, but leaning on them now could keep the real starters from disappearing for longer stretches later. That kind of patience isn’t glamorous, but for Seattle, it may be the smarter way to keep the season afloat.
In Other News...
Olney Just Floated A Mariners Trade Fit Fans Will Debate
As the Mariners continue sorting out what their roster might need down the stretch, Buster Olney tossed out a name on the "Refuse to Lose Territory" podcast that fits the kind of conversation Seattle keeps having around lineup balance and October viability. His pitch centered on a right-handed outfielder who could bring a steadier presence at the top of the order, which is the sort of profile that naturally draws interest from a club always looking to squeeze a little more offense out of its everyday mix.
The part that makes the idea linger is the timing. The player in question is nearing free agency, and the Orioles struggles only add another layer to the discussion, since clubs in Seattles position tend to watch situations like that closely. For the Mariners, it is the kind of possible addition that makes sense on paper and invites an immediate debate about whether the cost, the fit and the urgency all line up before the market gets moving. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Just Caught A Break In The AL West Race
The Mariners view of the AL West got a little clearer this week with Brent Rookers season now finished, a tough blow for an Athletics team that has already spent much of the year trying to patch together its lineup. Rooker had been sidelined since June 8 after first going on the injured list with a bone bruise, and even before this latest setback he had been grinding through an uneven season at the plate.
For Seattle, the bigger picture matters as much as the individual absence. The As have already had to navigate injuries elsewhere in the lineup, and losing one of their more dangerous bats only makes an already difficult divisional climb more complicated. The Mariners still have work to do, but any break in a tight race can matter, and this one leaves Oakland with another hole to fill. [Read more 🡒]
Andrs Muoz May Have Just Changed Seattles Trade Deadline Plans
Andrs Muoz has gone from early-season concern to one of the cleaner answers in the Mariners bullpen, and that matters with the trade deadline approaching. After a rough first half, he has settled in enough to give Seattle a legitimate late-inning option again, which is no small thing for a club that has spent much of the year looking for stability on the mound.
Muozs rebound does not erase every bullpen need, though. The Mariners still have reason to hunt for relief depth because of injuries and the usual wear-and-tear of a long season, but the priority has shifted some. Instead of chasing a closer, Seattle can focus more narrowly on arms that can strengthen the group around him, with several potential relief targets already in the mix. [Read more 🡒]