So much has been made about what the Mariners have done since the MLB lockout ended earlier this month, it’s been easy to forget about the first big addition the team made this offseason.

Mariners Notebook: What will determine the rotation order

Even before Seattle signed reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray, the Mariners swung a deal with the San Diego Padres to bring 2021 National League All-Star second baseman Adam Frazier to the team. And while the recent trade for Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez, who each have also been NL All-Stars, is where most of the focus has been lately when it comes to the lineup, Frazier has quietly been tearing up the Cactus League in spring training.

In six games in Arizona, Frazier is 6 for 13 (.462) with two doubles, three walks and just two strikeouts for a 1.178 OPS.

.@A_Fraz12 and @M_Hanny17 teaming up to get us on the board 👏 pic.twitter.com/HsvLuQSP65

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 26, 2022

Knowing he’s likely to see a lot of plate appearances in the leadoff spot for Seattle in 2022, the 30-year-old Frazier is very encouraged about the lineup behind him – and the chance it will give the Mariners to make the postseason.

“I’m pretty excited about it, especially after the Winker and Suárez trade,” Frazier told Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Friday.

Frazier knows plenty about Winker and Suárez, too, having shared the NL Central division with the two former Reds during his 5 1/2 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (Frazier was a trade deadline acquisition by San Diego in 2021).

“That adds a lot of thump to the lineup, a couple of really good hitters as I’ve seen a lot being in Pittsburgh, facing them 20 times a year,” Frazier said. “I know what they can do and it’s pretty exciting to have them added to the lineup that was already pretty strong with some really good hitters. So we’re excited.”

Asked if that lineup and the roster as a whole has enough to make a serious run at ending the Mariners’ playoff drought that dates back to 2002, Frazier is confident.

“Take care of business each day and I think we’ll be there at the end,” he said.

Here are a few more things of note Frazier said during his interview with Wyman and Bob, which you can listen to at this link or in the player at the bottom of this post.

• Frazier on hitting leadoff: “It’s something I’ve done for a long time now, back since I was I guess in little league. I’m pretty comfortable there. … It’s just the first at-bat of the game but a lot of the situations tend to be the same or pretty similar throughout each game, so you get used to it. I like doing that, really just setting the table for the power guys to drive you in so I’m pretty comfortable there.”

• On playing with Gold Glove shortstop J.P. Crawford: “He’s been fun to watch. Really in practice we just get out there and have fun together. But you know, we’ve only played three or four games (together) I guess so far this spring, so looking forward to being able to do that all season – picking each other’s brain, you know, figuring out where we like to feed and stuff like that, just try to make life easier on each other in that aspect. And then we’re working with (Mariners infield coach) Perry Hill, who’s a defensive wizard has been around the game for forever so that’s just a bonus for us to give us a chance to be the best we can be.”

• On top prospect Julio Rodríguez: “I’ve been impressed. You know, I mean, physically he’s a big dude. He came in in great shape, he looks like he’s ready to rock. He’s got a cannon from the outfield, he kind of flies around, and obviously he can hit. The guy wants to be great … He’s focused on what he’s trying to do and I think he will turn into that one day.”

Is Julio Rodríguez making the Mariners’ roster? The case looks strong

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