Salk’s Takeaways: How Mariners look after a week in Arizona

Mar 3, 2025, 9:43 AM | Updated: 10:11 am

Host, Brock & Salk (6-10 a.m.)

I arrived in Peoria with six questions about the Seattle Mariners. After spending a week at spring training around the team, talking with players and coaches, watching them practice and attending games, I think I have answers.

Last week: Six things Salk is watching at Seattle Mariners spring training

Let’s review.

Reviewing the Seattle Mariners storylines

1. Is there enough offense?

Probably not. I’m not trying to be overly negative but simply realistic. It’s not impossible that everything clicks, but it would require a lot of things going perfectly.

Of the three major bounceback candidates – Mitch Garver, J.P. Crawford and Jorge Polanco – only Garver is off to a strong start. His swing looks shorter and that has produced some positive results early. He has used that shorter stroke to dump singles into left field and home runs to right center.

If that continues, his odd-year production could continue in 2025.

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Crawford has had decent plate appearances but without great results. I also watched him make three errors in less than five innings.

As for Polanco, we’re still waiting to see him despite the claim that he was in even better health heading into the spring.

Breakout candidates? Dylan Moore is hitless, Ryan Bliss has been exciting and Tyler Locklear hasn’t stood out.

We’ll delve more deeply into Julio and the hitting strategy in a few paragraphs, but if this offense is going to improve, it needs Randy Arozarena and Victor Robles to be major parts of it. Arozarena is the second-most talented position player on this roster, and any successful season likely starts with him maximizing all of that potential.

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Here is the good news: new hitting coach Kevin Seitzer is unlike anyone I have ever seen in that role. While most hitting coaches are quiet, choosing to spend most of their time in the cages flipping soft toss or watching quietly, Seitzer is incredibly relational. He is friendly, affable, talkative and approachable. That style led to some pretty successful seasons in Atlanta. If he can simplify things for these hitters and get the best out of them, the offense could be good enough.

While the approach will be simple, the biggest difference could be the pressure associated with each at-bat. Manager Dan Wilson is a calm presence as managwho talked about the importance of grace. If the biggest problems this team has had were being caught in between and trying to hit too many five-run home runs, this new approach should help. Will that be enough to offset what may be a lack of talent in a few key spots?

2. Is Julio Rodríguez ready to become “The One?”

The on-field results sure haven’t indicated it (his .154/.200/.308 Cactus League slash line is… not ideal), but Julio seems very confident and comfortable in his own skin. While the thousand-watt smile still lights up a room, he is growing into the role and personality of a superstar. That means knowing how to be accommodating while still getting your work done. It means being friendly without letting everyone into your circle. And, in Julio’s case, it means showing a little more edge.

What stood out from Brock and Salk’s conversation with Julio

For the most part, fans have seen Julio’s fun side. But after seeing him as the first to look for a fight when the team has been disrespected, we know there is some edginess there as well. Maybe letting it loose would allow him to reach his full potential?

By all accounts, Julio is loving senior director of hitting strategy Edgar Martinez’s tutelage, and it’s helping him drive the ball up the middle and the other way. The team knows he may swing and miss, but they want him to do more damage when he swings. Sounds good to me.

3. What is the Seattle Mariners’ philosophy?

Of all the questions, this is still the one I’m farthest from answering. Clearly, they want to be aggressive. They have the speed and athleticism on the team to play that style. But does that mean sacrificing early in games? Does it mean playing for one run even at the expense of the crooked-number big inning? That remains to be seen.

Clearly, they want to keep their approach simple and use the big parts of the ballpark. But how much will they utilize the copious amount of data that their analytics team provides? We don’t know that yet either.

My best guess is that we see a style somewhere between what we watched under Scott Servais and what we saw in the last six weeks of last season under Wilson. I do believe they will sacrifice and play more small ball. But I don’t think it will define their season. They may pressure their opponents with speed and they may find opportunities to play for a single important run. But if you want to win in this era, you better hit. And the Mariners will have to do exactly that.

4. What is the level of trust and buy-in from the players?

As of now, both the trust and the buy-in seem to be excellent! If there is any residual frustration either with the changes made last season or the lack of movement this offseason, none of it is evident in Peoria.

My perception is that this camp is going very smooth and friendly. The players seem happy to be with each other and open to the coaching they are receiving. It helps that many of them have played together for years.

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Sometimes the biggest standout is actually what’s missing. In this case, it took me a few days to realize what that was: frustration. After spending the offseason in Seattle talking to and hearing from fans and media that are frustrated by the lack of action and roster improvements, I may have been expecting to find the same in camp. Instead, that sentiment was noticeably absent.

How will that withstand an early slump? Another mediocre April? A few injuries without depth to fill in? We may find out. But as of now, this group is positive and confident in itself.

5. Can the Seattle Mariners maintain pitching health?

This one isn’t actually answerable in a week. Fortunately, we haven’t seen any new injuries pop up and all of the starters have come into camp healthy and strong.

But man, this rotation is good. And close. They walk around the facility together. They depart the games together. They gather for each other’s bullpen sessions. They tease each other in interviews. They teach and learn pitches from each other. They move in a pack, unlike any other rotation I have seen.

And any of the five of them could be an All Star or Cy Young candidate. Logan Gilbert has become a man and very likely will start on opening day. Luis Castillo is still the leader of this group. I barely saw George Kirby, until he strolled onto the mound for his first start and casually threw 98 mph while looking like he was playing catch in the backyard. Bryce Miller has nine pitches and the exact mentality you look for in an ace. Oh, and Bryan Woo might be the best of all of them.

If they stay healthy…

If… if… if…

6. Where are the kids?

Closer than they appeared last year! One of the highlights of this spring has been seeing the next generation of Mariners. After a few seasons of knowing that the best young players in the organization were already in the big leagues, this felt more like it did a few years ago with Julio, Logan, Kirby, etc.

Ben Williamson will play in the big leagues this season. His glove is elite, and every time I see him he seems to hit enough. If and when they have a need at third, he will be ready.

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Cole Young is on the verge of being ready, though I don’t see any chance he surprises everyone by making the opening day roster.

Lazaro Montes is enormous and has a mature approach at the plate to accompany his massive power. His defense is supposed to be his weakness, but we watched him move well in right field and show off a strong and accurate arm.

Colt Emerson is a dude. So is Felnin Celesten. They stand out in a crowd, and Jonny Farmelo isn’t too far behind them.

But is there pitching to go with them? Maybe. Brandyn Garcia looks ready to pitch in middle relief right now. Logan Evans might not be far behind. Ryan Sloan looks like he’s 12 years old but is highly regarded. And, as general manager Justin Hollander suggested, watching Jurrangelo Cijntje throw a bullpen with both arms was incredible.