SEATTLE MARINERS

Why Domingo Santana’s defense is most concerning for the Mariners

May 2, 2019, 3:32 PM

Mariners OF Domingo Santana has struggled in his transition to left field from right. (AP)...

Mariners OF Domingo Santana has struggled in his transition to left field from right. (AP)

(AP)

Defense has been an especially prevalent complaint about the Seattle Mariners this season, and they have three players ranked in the bottom seven in the league in defensive WAR: left fielder Domingo Santana, center fielder Mallex Smith and shortstop Tim Beckham.

Servais: Mariners 3B Kyle Seager close to rehab assignment in minors

Shannon Drayer, Mariners insider for 710 ESPN Seattle, talked to John Clayton on Thursday and explained that while the defensive issues of Smith and Beckham aren’t exactly welcome, Santana’s performance in the field is what is most alarming.

“It’s a problem and it’s one that they’ve got to evaluate not just for now but for the future,” Drayer said about the defense of Santana, whose minus-10.1 defensive WAR (per Fangraphs) ranks 3.4 points lower than second-worst player in the MLB. “When you look at what he has done defensively, there’s no two ways about it – by WAR and by defensive runs saved, he right now is the worst defensive player in baseball.”

Drayer explained that while Smith is second-to-last with a minus-6.7 defensive WAR and Beckham is seventh-worst at minus-3.8, Smith’s past and Beckham’s future make their defense easier to digest.

“It’s a little bit scary when you look at that list, but you look at them a little bit differently. Mallex has a track record of being a decent defender, so you look at what he is right now and you say that’s fixable. You look at the metrics and you know he’s a very good athlete. You look at Tim Beckham, and right now he is essentially a placeholder because J.P. Crawford is the future shortstop of this team.”

As for Santana, the Mariners are trying to determine if he has the ability to play the outfield going forward or if he is bound to be a designated hitter for the rest of his career. And if that future is in Seattle, it will most likely have to come in left field due to All-Star Mitch Haniger having established himself in right and Daniel Vogelbach appearing to be the front-runner at DH.

Left field, however, has proven to be a difficult transition for Santana, who has played 292 of his 352 career MLB games in right.

“You brought him in to be a piece of this team hopefully for the future,” Drayer said. “When you look at the defensive numbers right now, unless there is something that drastically changes, you’re looking more at most likely a potential DH rather than an outfielder.”

You can hear Drayer’s full segment breaking down the Mariners in the player embedded in this post, or you can download the podcast at this link.

Félix Hernández is pitching well, and there’s a sign it can continue

The John Clayton Memorial Fund

Benefitting the Multiple Sclerosis Society

The Professor's Notes

John Clayton hosted a daily video breaking down the NFL

Mariners Roof Report

Brought to you by
Rain Showers
High 52° | Low 42°
Roof is open
Red Sox at Mariners today at 7:10pm

Seattle Mariners

baseball movie Kevin Costner Field of Dreams...

Brent Stecker

Top 10: Who are the best baseball movie actors of all-time?

To determine the top 10 actors of baseball movie history, we limit the list to those who acted in as least two baseball movies.

8 minutes ago

Seattle Mariners roster J.P. Crawford...

Brent Stecker

Seattle Mariners announce opening day 26-man roster

The Seattle Mariners have announced their 26-man roster for opening day of the 2024 season as well as players starting on the IL.

3 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh...

Shannon Drayer

Mariners’ young core, now veterans, fueled by last year’s letdown

Falling back can be a part of growing up, and for the once young core of the Seattle Mariners, it is now part of their DNA.

3 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Mitch Haniger...

Mike Salk

Salk: Scars remain as Mariners return, but hope isn’t far away

As the Seattle Mariners return for 2024, Seattle Sports' Mike Salk writes about seasons, scars, frustration, hope and baseball.

18 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Bryce Miller Logan Gilbert Bryan Woo...

Brandon Gustafson

Dontrelle Willis: Mariners’ rotation provides ‘quality every single day’

Dontrelle Willis, a former MLB pitcher and current analyst for FOX Sports, gives his Seattle Mariners insight ahead of opening day.

21 hours ago

Seattle Mariners commercials Julio Rodríguez...

Brent Stecker

Latest Mariners commercial teams Julio up with a franchise icon

Add a new duo to the list of great pairings in Seattle Mariners commercials, with All-Star outfielder Julio Rodríguez joined by a team icon.

24 hours ago

Why Domingo Santana’s defense is most concerning for the Mariners