SEATTLE -- The Mariners aren’t shying away from lofty goals entering 2023, intending to build upon their drought breakthrough and contending for the AL West title.
Here are some Spring Training questions about the Mariners as they prepare to battle for a second straight playoff appearance.
When is the first workout for pitchers and catchers?
Plenty of players are already on site, but the first formal workout is slated for Feb. 16.
What is the date of the first full-squad workout?
Feb. 21
Where is the team’s facility?
The Peoria Sports Complex is located in the West Valley of the greater Phoenix area, about 20 miles northwest of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It’s located at 16101 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, Ariz., 85382.
Can fans attend workouts?
Yes, workouts are free and open to the public beginning Feb. 16. The Mariners’ back fields in Peoria are among the most accessible in the league with plenty of seating and walkability for fans.
Who are some new faces fans should know?
The Mariners did most of their heavy lifting early this offseason with a few big trades, then they wrapped a solid-but-quiet winter by adding a few veteran platoon options.
• C/OF Cooper Hummel, a trade acquisition from the D-backs
• 2B Kolten Wong, a trade acquisition from the Brewers
• INF Tommy La Stella, a free-agent signing
• RF Teoscar Hernández, a trade acquisition from the Blue Jays
• LF AJ Pollock, a free-agent signing
• RHP Trevor Gott, a free-agent signing
• RHP Justin Topa, a trade acquisition from the Brewers
Who are some of the top prospects invited to Major League camp?
Among the Mariners’ Top 30 prospects, catcher Harry Ford (No. 1), right-handers Emerson Hancock (No. 2), Bryce Miller (No. 5), Taylor Dollard (No. 7), Bryan Woo (No. 14) and Travis Kuhn (No. 29) and outfielders Zach DeLoach (No. 9), Alberto Rodríguez (No. 13) and Robert Perez Jr. (No. 20).
Which players will be participating in the World Baseball Classic?
Major League Baseball has yet to confirm rosters, but the following players are expected to participate:
• Canada: RHP Matt Brash
• Dominican Republic: RHP Diego Castillo, OF Teoscar Hernández, CF Julio Rodríguez
• Great Britain: C Harry Ford (Minors)
• Italy: RHP Matt Festa
• Venezuela: 3B Eugenio Suárez
Of note, Luis Castillo will not participate after being initially included in the D.R.’s preliminary roster. Because of the value of starting pitching and the playoff-like intensity that the WBC evokes, Castillo and the Mariners came to the decision together.
When is the team’s first Cactus League game?
As they do every year, the Mariners open their spring slate against the Padres, the club that they share the Peoria Sports Complex with, on Friday, Feb. 24, with first pitch slated for 12:10 p.m. PT.
What are a few other notable spring games?
The opener against the Padres is always a fun one, but that should be particularly true this year given that San Diego is coming off an NLCS appearance and enters the year among a handful of World Series favorites. Seattle’s games against the AL West in spring are always worth watching, too, to gauge how they stack up against the rest of the division. The Mariners also host Team Canada on March 9 and could be facing their high-leverage reliever, Matt Brash.
Will the team’s games be televised?
Nine Mariners Spring Training games will be televised live on ROOT Sports:
• Feb. 25 at Angels
• March 4 against Rockies
• March 10 vs. Reds
• March 11 at Rockies
• March 12 vs. Rangers
• March 19 vs. White Sox
• March 22 vs. Dodgers
• March 24 vs. A’s
• March 25 vs. D-backs
For the March 11 game, ROOT will have its first all-female broadcast, featuring women from across the ROOT Sports family. Jenny Cavnar (Rockies) will serve as the play-by-play announcer with Angie Mentink (Mariners) joining her in the booth as an analyst. Sideline reporter duties will be handled by Jen Mueller (Mariners) and Julia Morales (Astros). The all-female broadcast will extend behind the camera as well with women from the production team including game producer Alison Vigil, graphics producer Susan Strand and game director Erica Ferrero.
All Mariners Spring Training games can be heard on Seattle Sports (710 AM) and participating members of the Mariners Radio Network.
When is the club’s last game in Arizona?
March 27 against the Padres.
Will there be any additional exhibitions before the regular season?
The Mariners will not have any exhibition contests between Cactus League play and Opening Day.
What are the details for Opening Day?
Friday, March 30, at 7:10 p.m. PT against the Guardians at T-Mobile Park.
Daniel Kramer covers the Mariners for MLB.com.