3 changes struggling Seattle Mariners can make now

When a team goes through a rough patch like the Seattle Mariners have endured over the last month, it’s logical to look for changes that can be made.

Mariners OF Luke Raley set to start rehab stint in Triple-A

Usually, that means looking to the trade market. But with the MLB trade deadline not until the end of July, it’s going to be at least a few weeks until things start heating up there. So with the Mariners off Thursday and looking to get back to .500 when they open a six-game homestand at 7:10 p.m. Friday against Cleveland, here are three changes they can make right now.

1. Use Dylan Moore more like an everyday player.

If you’ve been paying particularly close attention to how Moore has been playing lately, you’re probably calling me some derogatory name that indicates a lack of intelligence. And I fully accept that.

Moore hasn’t had a hit since May 27, going 0 for 18 with 13 strikeouts and a walk in the 11 games he’s appeared in over the time since.

So what on earth am I talking about?

First, even with his recent slump, Moore is tied for fifth on the Mariners with eight home runs, and is sixth among regular M’s players with a .731 OPS. And do you know what the Mariners’ offense has been missing most amid its struggles? Homers from basically anyone besides Cal Raleigh.

Second, since May 27, Moore has made more than two plate appearances in a single game just once.

OK, now let’s go back to May 27. On that day, Moore started at second base and went 3 for 4 with two doubles as the Mariners beat the Nationals 9-1. When the game was over, he had a .272/.331/.496 slash line for an .827 OPS. And then the Mariners got away from playing him like a regular part of the lineup, and have gone 3-11 since.

I know Dylan Moore isn’t necessarily the answer to the Mariners’ woes, but I think at this point it should be clear he isn’t a problem, either. I know he hits better against left-handed pitching and on the road, but regardless of those facts, he’s one of Seattle’s most reliable options if they need someone to slug. And, uh, they do.

It might be fine to play Ben Williamson and his .604 OPS at third base. And it might be fine to play Cole Young and his .493 OPS at second base. And it might have been fine to play Leody Taveras and his .530 OPS in right field. But you really shouldn’t play all of them at the same time over Moore, regardless of where you’re playing or who’s pitching.

In this lineup, Dylan Moore deserves to play more than in just a platoon role.

2. Commit to Mitch Garver as George Kirby’s catcher.

When the Mariners decided last season that Mitch Garver wasn’t going to be just the designated hitter and would start catching again, he started off by only catching on days George Kirby started. And it worked pretty well.

Before Garver caught Kirby, the 2023 All-Star pitcher had a 4.33 ERA. In the 12 starts that came next, Kirby had a 1.95 ERA and didn’t allow a home run in 11 of those contests.

Related: Why Garver clicked with George Kirby as his catcher

Later in the season, Garver started catching other Mariners starters, which continued for the first two months of this season, which Kirby missed with shoulder inflammation. But when Kirby returned, Cal Raleigh caught him for his first three outings, none of which went great.

Garver got his chance to catch Kirby again last Sunday, and Kirby had not just the best start of his season – seven innings, two runs, two hits, no walks – but struck out a career-high 14 batters in a 3-2 M’s win over the Angels.

Now, I can fully accept that it may have just been a coincidence that last Sunday was a stellar showing for Kirby with Garver catching him. It was his fourth start of the year, so maybe he just happened to finally knock all the cobwebs off. But doesn’t it seem like Kirby and Garver have a connection that should be leaned into whenever possible? After all, Kirby is compared a lot to Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, who famously had a personal catcher in Eddie Pérez.

This is no shade on Cal Raleigh, by the way. The guy is the 2024 American League Platinum Glove winner after all, and I would dare say the rest of Seattle’s starters do better when he’s behind the plate. But if there’s anyone in the rotation who seems best suited to have a catcher whose main job is to work with him, it’s Kirby.

Obviously Garver would still probably need to catch one game a week thrown by another M’s pitcher just to keep Raleigh fresh, but it stands to reason that it would also benefit Garver to focus more on Kirby than trying to balance the repertories of all of Seattle’s starters equally.

3. Call up Harry Ford.

Out of these three changes the Mariners could make right now, this is the one I think needs to happen the least. But it’s still worth exploring for many of the same reasons I stated regarding Moore.

The M’s need hitters who can thump and drive in runners. And the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers’ 22-year-old catcher is doing exactly that.

Ford is slashing .312/.425/.476 for a .901 OPS with seven home runs, 10 doubles and 36 RBIs in 49 games. And perhaps most impressive is that MLB.com’s No. 63 overall prospect has 36 walks to 38 strikeouts. A little patience at the plate never hurt.

The Mariners could call Ford up to get at-bats at DH and be an extra option to spell Raleigh behind the plate, though it’s tough to have three catchers on your roster when none are playing any other position on the field (Garver has played first base in his career and Ford had a short tryout in the outfield at Double-A last season, but it doesn’t seem like the M’s have designs on playing either anywhere but catcher).

It’s  probably worth the M’s bringing up Ford for a bit to see what happens, especially since his skill set fits more of what their offense is missing than fellow prospects Williamson and Young. But catchers tend to acclimate slower to hitting against big league pitching – don’t forget that Raleigh had a short demotion to Triple-A early in 2022, the same year he hit 27 homers for the Mariners including the one that clinched a playoff spot – so you shouldn’t expect Ford to provide a huge jolt upon arrival.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• MLB Draft insider Mayo details Mariners’ options at No. 3 overall
• Morosi: Mariners’ biggest need? ‘Address the rotation first’
• The sliding Mariners’ problem is that there’s many of them
• ‘Donnie Barrels’ lives: Solano hits his first Mariners homer
• Seattle Mariners’ Logan Gilbert shines during strong third rehab start

Related

Mariners’ Cal Raleigh wins AL Player of the Week after 5-HR barrageMariners Roster Move: Key reliever back from long IL stintLineups: Mariners start series at Fenway vs Red SoxMariners-Red Sox Series Preview: M’s look for rare feat in BostonReports: Mariners to promote slugging OF Lazaro MontesScherzer, Blue Jays blank Mariners 7-0 to sweep series