Mariners

MLB American League West Seattle Mariners 2022

After finishing six games under .500 in the pandemic-shortened 2020, the Mariners definitely made big strides in 2021.

The team finished 90-72, five games behind the division-winning Houston Astros. Their record was good for second in the AL West.

With a solid nucleus already on the big league team, there is more help on the way. The Mariners have five players in MLB.com’s top-100 prospect list.

Julio Rodriguez is the second-ranked prospect in all of baseball, trailing only Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles.

Others in the top-100 include shortstop Noelvi Marte (11), pitcher George Kirby (33), pitcher Emerson Hancock (34), and catcher Harry Ford (98).

The Mariners’ organization realizes that they are on the doorstep of seriously contending and are looking at impact-free agents as well. For instance, prior to the MLB lockout, the Mariners signed reigning AL Cy Young award winner Robbie Ray to a five-year, $115 million deal.

Don’t be surprised if they are even further active on the free agent or trade market prior to the 2022 regular season starts.

Regardless, Mariners’ fans have to feel optimistic that the organization is heading in the right direction. While their first World Series trip might not be in 2022, it might not be too far away either.

MLB American League West Seattle Mariners History

The youngest team in the AL West, the Seattle Mariners’ franchise, was not established until 1977 as an expansion team. They were one of two expansion teams established that year along with the Toronto Blue Jays.

As part of the rules of the 1976 expansion draft, the Mariners could only choose players from other American League teams. With the first pick of the expansion draft, the Mariners took outfielder Ruppert Jones from the Kansas City Royals.

The other top-five selections in the expansion draft included pitcher Gary Wheelock (from the Angels), third baseman Bill Stein (from the White Sox), pitcher Dick Pole (from the Red Sox), and first baseman Dan Meyer (from the Tigers).

Even with realignment in 1994, the Seattle Mariners have not known another division outside of the American League West.

In 45 total seasons, the Mariners have gone 3,336 – 3,727, good for a .472 winning percentage.

The Mariners played in the Kingdome from 1977 to 1999. Starting in 1999, the team moved to its current location, T-Mobile Park.