Seattle Mariners Top Ten: Edgar, “King Félix” and A-Rod
By Tab Bamford
The Mariners greatest season came, surprisingly, after the free agent departure of shortstop Alex Rodríguez. The 2001 squad won a franchise record 116 regular season games. Its everyday lineup featured two Latinos: Carlos Guillén at shortstop replacing the departed A-Rod, and the star who never left Seattle Edgar Martínez. The team’s starting rotation was topped that season by Venezuelan right-hander Freddy García. Their success lessened the hurt caused by the departures of stars such as Rodríguez, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Randy Johnson in the preceding years.
Seattle now seeks to build for success as a franchise by attracting Latino free agents, acquiring them via trades, and heavily scouting Latin America. A look at their 2018 roster reveals that vital mixture with young Latinos that were drafted like All-Star closer Edwin “Sugar” Diaz, All-Star shortstop Jean Segura acquired via trade, and designated hitter Nelson Cruz who signed as a free agent in 2014.
Which of these Latino players have had the biggest impact on the Mariners historically? To figure out the franchise’s Latino Top 10, we kept it simple by using WAR (as calculated by Baseball-Reference.com) as our metric of choice. And while this is one measure of the impact of these players, you might have your own opinion as to who deserves to higher (or lower) on that team’s Top 10.
Anyone missing? Surprised some are higher or lower than expected? Share with us your thoughts.
Seattle Mariners Top Ten
1. Edgar Martínez
18 years in Seattle, 68.4 WAR, seven-time All-Star, two batting titles, five Silver Slugger Awards
Puerto Rico / US
Martínez was one of the premier designated hitters of his generation. He is the career leader in the following categories for Seattle: Offensive WAR, total bases, runs scored, RBI, doubles, extra base hits, bases on balls, times on base and games played. Only Ken Griffey, Jr. has a higher WAR among hitters in Mariners’ franchise history.
2. Félix Hernández
14 years in Seattle, 51.5 WAR, six-time All-Star, 2010 AL Cy Young Award
Venezuela
“King Félix” is the career leader in WAR among pitchers in the history of the Mariners franchise. Hernández is also the career franchise leader in wins, strikeouts, games started and batters faced. He was the runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award in 2009 when he won a career-high 19 games (to only five losses) and won the award the following year despite a 13-12 record; he led the league with 249.2 innings pitched that season. He was also the runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award in 2014 and threw a perfect game on Aug. 15, 2012. No active player has a higher WAR with their current team than Hernández, including Miguel Cabrera with Detroit and Yadier Molina in St. Louis.
3. Alex Rodríguez
Seven years in Seattle, 38.1 WAR, four-time All-Star, four Silver Sluggers
Dominican Republic / US
A-Rod was the first overall pick in the 1993 MLB Draft and didn’t disappoint. He made the jump to Seattle the following season as an 18-year-old and was in the big leagues to stay in 1996, when he first appeared in an All-Star Game and was runner-up for the AL MVP after leading the league with 54 doubles and 141 runs scored. It’s amazing to think he put up 189 home runs, 595 RBI and 627 runs scored with the Mariners before leaving for the Rangers – as a 24-year-old.
4. Robinson Canó
Five years in Seattle, 22.0 WAR, three-time All-Star
Dominican Republic
Unfortunately, this season’s PED suspension has clouded the tenure of Canó in Seattle. Since he signed his blockbuster deal in Seattle, Canó has finished in the top ten of AL MVP voting twice. Canó hit 39 home runs and drove in 103 runs, his highest totals with the Mariners, in 2016.
5. Adrián Beltré
Five years in Seattle, 21.2 WAR
Dominican Republic
Beltré signed with the Mariners before the 2005 season and spent five seasons at third. He hit 95 home runs in his first four seasons before he was limited to 111 games in his final season with the M’s. In 715 games in Seattle Beltré scored 372 runs, drove in 396 and stole 49 bases.
6. Freddy García
Six years in Seattle, 18.7 WAR, two-time All-Star
Venezuela
García was acquired in what was, at the time, the biggest trade in franchise history. Seattle sent Randy Johnson to Houston for García, Carlos Guillén and John Halama at the deadline in 1998. He was immediately an impact player for the Mariners, finishing runner-up to Carlos Beltrán for the 1999 Rookie of the Year after winning 17 games and throwing 201.1 innings. He led the American League with a 3.05 ERA and 238.2 innings pitched in 2001, his first all-star season; he finished third in Cy Young voting that season as well. “Sweaty Freddy” threw 1,096.1 innings and won 76 games in his six years with the Mariners.
7. Nelson Cruz
Four years in Seattle, 15.9 WAR, three-time All-Star
Dominican Republic
Cruz arrived in Seattle as a 34-year-old in 2015 and has been a dominant bat in the middle of the Mariners’ order since. He hit 126 home runs and drove in 317 runs in his first three seasons in Seattle and was named an All-Star in 2015, 2017 before being invited back to the Midsummer Classic again this year for a third time as a Mariner.
8. Raúl Ibañez
11 years in Seattle, 14.5 WAR
Cuba / US
The son of a chemist who emigrated to New York two years before Raúl was born, the Mariners selected Ibañez in the 54th round of the 1991 MLB Draft. He spent the first five years of his career in Seattle and came back after three good years in Kansas City for five more. He drove in at least 105 runs in three straight seasons (2006-08). In 1,110 total games with the Mariners, Ibañez hit 156 home runs and drove in 612 runs.
9. Julio Cruz
Seven years in Seattle, 12.8 WAR
US / Puerto Rico
“The Cruzer” earned his nickname burning up the base paths; he stole at least 40 bases in six straight seasons (1978-83) and held the franchise’s stolen base record until Ichiro broke it in 2008. In 742 games with the Mariners, Cruz collected 649 hits, scored 402 runs and stole 290 bases.
10. Franklin Gutierrez
Seven years in Seattle, 12.5 WAR, one Gold Glove Award
Venezuela
Gutierrez was acquired in a massive, three-team, 12-player trade between the Mariners, Indians and Mets on Dec. 11, 2008. His first season in Seattle was the best of his career; he hit a career-high 18 home runs and drove in a career-best 70 runs. He won a Gold Glove Award in 2010. In 635 games in Seattle, Gutierrez scored and drove in an identical 268 runs.
WHO DID WE MISS? WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS!
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