SEATTLE -- At long last, Opening Day has arrived. And with it, the Mariners on Thursday morning officially set their 26-man roster ahead of their matchup against the Red Sox.
Even for a contending club with roster clarity, there were still some intriguing developments over the past six weeks since Spring Training -- notably from an injury standpoint to relievers Gregory Santos and Matt Brash, and starting pitcher Bryan Woo.
Here's a full breakdown:
Catcher (2): Cal Raleigh, Seby Zavala
The Mariners will go with a traditional starter/backup tandem this season, after going with more of a split last year when Tom Murphy was still with the club. Zavala will likely see his most action against righties, but the Mariners have been pointed about getting Raleigh at-bats against such arms in spring to prepare him to be regularly deployed there. In the Minors, Blake Hunt provides depth at a position that the Mariners have notably lacked in recent years. Free-agent acquisition Mitch Garver will also contribute, but sparingly, given that he’ll spent most of his time at DH.
First base (1): Ty France
The Mariners are banking on a big rebound from the 2022 All-Star, who put his Driveline-overhauled swing on display with positive results this spring.
Second base (1): Jorge Polanco
Can the former All-Star finally give the Mariners consistency at a position that has been among the American League’s least productive the past five years? Polanco switch-hits, can also play third base and should be a middle-of-the-lineup presence.
Third base (2): Luis Urías, Josh Rojas
While it appears to be the Mariners' position with the most question marks, its scope has become clearer now that Urías has distanced himself from right shoulder inflammation that had prevented him from playing the field for a few weeks. Rojas, meanwhile, has had a solid camp. Mariners manager Scott Servais has also said that this won't be a straight platoon.
Shortstop (1): J.P. Crawford
The unofficial team captain is coming off a career year, when he was also at the center of some of the Mariners’ most monumental moments. Whether he can replicate that production is a legitimate question, but Crawford has nonetheless established himself as one of the AL’s standout shortstops.
Utility (1): Dylan Moore
Moore has had a strong camp, an encouraging sign after he hit roadblocks last spring in his recovery from surgery to his core area. He'll see reps all over the infield and outfield, and will probably start on most days opposite a lefty pitcher.
Center field (1): Julio Rodríguez
At his best, Rodríguez can carry the Mariners single-handedly. But he was admittedly inconsistent at the plate last year for too many extended stretches where he got out of his approach, leading to a terse self-assessment when he arrived this spring. He's also teased some swing adjustments that could be a big component to his game in 2024.
Corner outfield (3): Mitch Haniger, Luke Raley, Dominic Canzone
Haniger is back after spending one year in San Francisco, and the reliability of his health won’t be as paramount given the depth around him. Raley arrives with big-time power following a trade with Tampa Bay, though he had a tough spring before trending up at the end. And with Jarred Kelenic gone, Canzone -- maybe their spring standout -- will have a runway for a clearer role.
Designated hitter (1): Mitch Garver
For the first time since Nelson Cruz departed after 2018, the Mariners are committed to a full-time DH, with Garver filling the role after doing so successfully for the World Series champion Rangers the year prior.
Starting rotation (5): Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, Emerson Hancock
The five-man contingent that the Mariners carried from early June through the end of the season returned intact until Monday, when the club revealed that Bryan Woo would begin the year on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. That left his spot open for de-facto No. 6, Emerson Hancock, who himself enters 2024 looking to distance himself from injuries.
Relief pitchers (8): Andrés Muñoz, Ryne Stanek, Tayler Saucedo, Gabe Speier, Austin Voth, Trent Thornton, Cody Bolton, Collin Snider
This group will enter the year short two of its best arms, but Brash at the very least is expected back in mid-April. That trickle-down effect could be impactful in the early weeks, and the addition of Stanek all of a sudden becomes a big insurance premium.
The newcomers to this group -- Bolton and Snider -- each seized their opportunities among a crowded group that also included Ty Buttrey, Carlos Vargas, Cory Abbott, Brett de Geus, Joey Krehbiel and Tyson Miller. The arms that didn't break camp could still certainly contribute early in the season.