Seattle Mariners Complete 2015 Player Predictions
Mar 28, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners outfielder Dustin Ackley (13) during a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle Mariners Outfield Predictions
Left Field: Dustin Ackley
2014 was a roller coaster for Ackley who got off to another slow start, before finally remembering how to hit in the first two months after the All-Star break. He hit .318/.351/.521 in July and August.
Unfortunately, an ankle injury put a damper on his season. Ackley missed a few weeks and then came back for a sub-par September.
2015 Prediction: .265/.315/.410, 15 HR’s, 55 RBI
Center Field: Austin Jackson
As Ray talked about a few days ago, it really is a coin-flip with Jackson. Do you get the Jackson that you could pencil in for .280/.330/.410 and Gold Glove caliber defense? Or the guy that posted a SLUGGING % of .260 for the Mariners after the trade?
Only time will tell, but I’ll project him somewhere in the middle.
2015 Prediction: .255/.310/.385, 5 HR’s, 35 RBI
Right Field: Seth Smith/ Justin Ruggiano
Between Smith, Ruggiano and Jackson, the Mariners have acquired three major league outfielders who will be playing significant time for a pair of minor leaguers (Nick Franklin and Matt Brazis) with little chance of making an impact in Seattle, and a talented, but expendable right handed reliever.
Smith and Ruggiano would presumably rotate based on the opposing pitcher unless one of them goes out and takes the job.
2015 Prediction:
Smith: .260/.330/.405, 7 HR’s, 35 RBI (90 games)
Ruggiano: .245/.300/.370, 3 HR’s, 20 RBI (60 games)
Outfield/DH: Nelson Cruz
I don’t care if he doesn’t hit 40 home runs. If he hits 25+, and slugs close to .500, that will be enough of a presence to make everyone around him better.
2015 Prediction: .260/.320/.495, 31 HR’s, 90 RBI
Utility Outfiled: Ricky Weeks
This is easily the most difficult Mariner to project. He has shown just as many signs of collapse in recent years as he has of being a player capable of playing well into his mid-thirties.
However, a .274/.357/.452 slash line in 2014 isn’t too incomparable with that of Seager (.268/.344/.454). Weeks will play mostly in a corner outfield spot and possibly the occasional second base.
2015 Prediction: .250/.320/.400, 8 HR’s, 25 RBI (60 games)
Next: Starting Pitching Projections