Seattle Mariners: Top 50 players of all time
By Nick Lee
6. Alex Rodriguez (1994-2000)
This might make some old scars burn and itch but the fact is, Rodriguez was a heck of a baseball player for the Mariners. He may have made his stardom (and infamy) elsewhere, but A-Rod had seven great seasons to start his career in a Mariners uniform.
He broke into the majors in 1994, but really made a splash in 1996. He earned his first of 14 All-Star appearances that year, which was his first full season.
Rodriguez scored an American League-leading 141 runs with a Major League-leading 54 doubles. He added 36 home runs and 123 RBI and a batting title to boot, with a ridiculous .358 average.
He posted his first of six four-digit OPS seasons (1.045). He also won the Silver Slugger at shortstop as well. He had three consecutive All-Star seasons from 1996-1998.
A-Rod’s best season as a Mariner was his last (hence the biggest payday in MLB history at that point). He hit .316 with 41 home runs and 132 RBI. He posted a 1.026 OPS and earned yet another Silver Slugger.
He was a part of three of the four postseasons in Seattle. He hit .409 with two home runs in the 2000 ALCS against the Yankees.
Many forget Rodriguez was not just good with his bat. He was also an elite fielder. He posted a 6.2 defensive WAR, which is seventh-best in franchise history.
A-Rod finished fourth-best in franchise history in home runs with 189. Who knows what would have happened if he had stayed one more year for the 2001 run?
Rodriguez is part of one of the biggest “what-ifs” in Mariners history. It’s amazing to think he shared a lineup with Martinez and Griffey for six seasons.