Why insider believes Mariners OF could be one of MLB’s best

It’s well known that the Seattle Mariners have assembled what many consider to be the best starting pitching staff in baseball, but that might not be the only group they have that’s the best in MLB.

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The Mariners also have a talented outfield comprised of left fielder Randy Arozarena, center fielder Julio Rodríguez and right fielder Victor Robles.

During a conversation with Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi shared some high praise for the M’s outfield.

“This could be one of the most talented outfields in Major League Baseball this year, period,” Morosi said Wednesday. “I feel that strongly about their ability. Now again, they’ve got to put it together. But tools-wise? The power of Arozarena and his speed. Robles, his ability to wreak havoc – I think he’s found his revived second home, if you will, in Seattle. And I think Julio is going to have a bounce-back year, too. And we know what his tools are.”

Seattle’s outfield ranked ninth in baseball with 9.6 fWAR last season. However, that number includes only about two months of play from Arozarena, a three-week stretch without Rodríguez, and only about half of a season’s worth of games (77) of Robles. Additionally, most of 2024 was a down season for Rodríguez, whose 3.8 fWAR was 2.0 below the number he produced in each of his two seasons.

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If the Mariners can get each of their starting outfielders to match their best seasons by fWAR standards in 2025, they’d be looking at a combined 13.4 fWAR from the trio. That would have been the second-ranked outfield in MLB last season behind the only the Yankees. New York will likely see a big drop in production from the outfield after losing superstar Juan Soto to the Mets in free agency. Soto was worth 7.9 fWAR in 151 games as an outfielder last season.

One of the reasons Morosi is particularly high on the M’s outfield is the athleticism the group brings to the table. He believes that feeds into one of the team’s overall greatest strengths.

“I do believe this will be one of the better baserunning teams in baseball this season, especially when you talk about those three,” Morosi said. “… Depending on how many games (Ryan) Bliss will start at second base, he’s a really good baserunner. … Dylan Moore does the same thing.

“So they’re a smart baserunning team, I think they’re a pretty athletic team and the outfield can give them that attitude.”

Another reason Morosi likes the Mariners’ outfield is the way they play the game.

“I think that bravado and swagger plays in the modern game,” Morosi said. “It just seems like Robles, after everything he said this spring, really feels like he’s found a home in Seattle.

“Arozarena is a big moment guy. You’ve seen it, whether it’s the playoffs (or) World Baseball Classic, he loves the stage like that. “And I think the better the better that this team plays, the louder that T-Mobile (Park) gets, the better that Julio plays, the more dazzling catches Julio makes, the more that I think you’ll get out of Arozarena.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2-7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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