Five questions the Mariners face as they head into the offseason

SEATTLE — The Mariners held their annual end-of-the-season gathering with reporters Wednesday afternoon at T-Mobile Park and let’s just say there was a lot of ground to cover.

And, certainly, still a lot to celebrate.

The Mariners won 90 games during the regular season, got back to the postseason for the first time since 2001, swept the Blue Jays in the wild-card round before being swept in three games by the Astros in the American League Division Series.

“At the end of the day, ending the drought was a huge accomplishment,” said Seattle manager Scott Servais. “The last couple of weeks were pretty special around here.”

The Mariners head into the offseason knowing that the 2023 team will likely look a lot like the 2022 group. “The bulk of our 2023 team is here,” said Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto.

Based on the highlights of Wednesday’s gathering, here are five questions the Mariners face this offseason.

Where do the Mariners stand with their impending free agents?

The Mariners have four free agents they’ll need to make a decision on, though only one — maybe two — merit strong consideration for bringing back in 2023.

Seattle will likely move on from second baseman Adam Frazier and 36-year-old designated hitter Carlos Santana, who provided the team with a huge lift in the clubhouse and contributed on the field. The Mariners will likely use a rotation of players in the designated hitter spot in 2023.

Left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd, the local kid who returned to Seattle to pitch for his hometown team, had a 1.35 ERA pitching in relief after joining the team in September. He obviously has an extensive history as a starter. Maybe there’s a spot for him in the bullpen?

Now, about Mitch Haniger. This one is tricky. Haniger, who will be 32 in December, only played in 57 games in the regular season due to injury.

But there might not be a better clubhouse guy on the team than Haniger, who has an unquestionable work ethic. So maybe you give Haniger a qualifying offer ($19.65 million) for 2023. If he turns it down, you get draft pick compensation when he signs elsewhere.

Either way, the Mariners still think very highly of Haniger.

“I think everyone would like to see us find common ground with Mitch,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “I know Mitch, for as much as he wants to be here, also wants to gauge what else is out there. So we’ll keep talking. We do love what he brings to the table.”

Who else but Mitch Haniger!?! pic.twitter.com/8FMkI7kWfP

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2021

Improvements needed, but where?

How many different ways can you spell offense? And this has nothing (mostly) to do with going scoreless for 18 innings in Saturday’s loss to the Astros in Game 3 of the ALDS. Offense was a problem for the Mariners in 2022. They ranked 28th in the big leagues in average (.230) and they scored one or fewer runs in a game 29 times (including 12 shutouts).

“I think we need to get better,” Hollander said. “We had an awesome year. I’m really excited about the progress we made, but we also finished 16 games behind the Astros. We know we need to augment the group that we have to get better … that could come by trade or free agency. But, I do think we want to get better.”

Finding a offensive-minded second baseman makes sense, but the reality is it might be tough to find a specific fit. The free agent class at the position isn’t great. But the shortstop class? That’s another story. Carlos Correa could be available and Xander Bogaerts might opt out of his deal with the Red Sox. Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson could also be potential targets.

“We ended the (postseason) drought … we’re much more attractive than we used to be,” Servais said when asked about Seattle possibly being a nicer landing place for free agents.

What about moving shortstop J.P. Crawford to second base if the Mariners land one of the aforementioned impact shortstops? Last winter, Dipoto said Crawford was the team’s shortstop — period. Then in April, the team inked him to a five-year, $51 million deal.

“Our preference would be to find a shortstop who can go play second base,” Dipoto said. “We’re not going to close the door to anything in that regard (moving Crawford). J.P. is our shortstop, we signed him to play shortstop and that’s what we intend on.”

The team will have a much better idea of where they sit once they have some resolution with Haniger.

What are the chances Chris Flexen is here in 2023?

As of today, the Mariners have six starting pitchers under contract for 2023 — Robbie Ray, Marco Gonzales, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Chris Flexen and Luis Castillo. I will eat my shoe if that entire group reports to spring training in February.

Really, as trade bait, Flexen presents likely the best opportunity for the Mariners to begin to augment their roster. Flexen, who triggered an $8 million option for 2023, was coveted by several playoff contenders at the trade deadline and is under club control through 2027. Maybe you package Flexen and a prospect (or two) to help enhance the offense.

Flexen had a 3.73 ERA in 33 games, including 22 starts. He has been durable (31 starts in 2021) and successful. Don’t think there won’t be a long line of teams (again) asking about him this winter.

It’s hard to see the Mariners parting ways with Gonzales, who is a vital piece to the team’s chemistry. He will earn $6.5 million in 2023 and $12 million in 2024 with a $15 million club option in 2025.

Because you’ll ask, the Mariners feel content with keeping Matt Brash in the bullpen moving forward. They won’t slam that door shut, but they really liked how his wipeout slider played in short stints. Brash began the season in the rotation and posted a 7.65 ERA. He was sent to Triple A with the intention of having him return late in the year in relief. He posted a 2.35 ERA in 34 relief appearances.

And don’t forget, minor league pitchers like Taylor Dollard and Emerson Hancock aren’t far away from the big leagues.

And what about Jesse Winker?

Winker, who went on the injured list the final week of the regular season with a neck strain that will need to be addressed surgically, recently had surgery on his left knee, Dipoto said Wednesday. He’s expected to be ready for spring training. What remains to be seen is if he will perform better than he did in 2022.

Winker had a 3.0 fWAR in 2021 with the Reds but just a 0.4 fWAR this season with the Mariners. He hit .219 with 14 home runs, 51 RBIs and was third in the American League in walks (84). But he posted a minus-16 in defensive runs saved, which was tied for the fourth-worst mark in the big leagues.

“I think it (knee) was a factor all year long and the combination of the knee and neck … it’s impossible for me to tell you how that affected him,” Dipoto said. “I think it’s unfortunate that this happened his first year in Seattle and left people with questions to what his real skill set is. He’s a good player and I’m sure he’s going to rebound.”

In September, Winker addressed his defensive shortcomings. The knee issue wasn’t something that was mentioned by the team or by Winker to reporters during the regular season.

Winker will make $8.25 million next season. Maybe there’s a chance to use him in 2023 as part of a platoon at designated hitter.

So who else isn’t healthy?

Dipoto had quite a laundry list of players who will head into the offseason with one injury or another. That list started with the revelation Winker had one surgery and will need another. But that was far from the end of it.

Rookie center fielder Julio Rodríguez suffered a fractured left pinky finger in Saturday’s Game 3 loss to the Astros on a head-first slide into second base in the eighth inning after he doubled. It’s an injury similar to what Eugenio Suárez suffered in September, which sent him to the injured list for 10 days.

Reliever Andrés Muñoz has had an ongoing issue with his foot that caused him pain during the season. He’ll have a procedure done on the foot this winter and he will likely be brought along slowly in spring training. But he should be fine for Opening Day next March.

Catcher Cal Raleigh played the final six or so weeks of the season — including the playoffs — with a torn UCL in his left thumb. He will see a hand specialist soon.

Utility man Sam Haggerty, who missed the postseason with a groin strain, is expected to be ready for spring training.

(Photo of Jesse Winker: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)