The Seattle Mariners are bound to look at least a little different the next time they take the field.
After a heartbreaking Game 7 loss in the American League Championship Series, the team recognizes that it has a winning foundation to build on. However, not every player from the postseason roster is guaranteed to be part of that future.
So, as we start to construct the ideal plan for the Mariners’ offseason in our heads, here are three players Fastball on SI believes have played their final games in a Seattle uniform.
Eugenio Suárez – 3B
The Mariners are unlikely to re-sign all three of their major free agents, and Suárez appears the most probable to depart. After hitting 49 home runs last season, he’s expected to secure a lucrative multi-year deal. Still, he once again struggled to produce at T-Mobile Park, falling short of his usual career numbers.
While Seattle fans will always love him for his grand slam in Game 5 of the ALCS, it’s more likely than not that we’ve seen the last of Suárez as a Mariner.
Caleb Ferguson – RP
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Mariners decided to bring back Ferguson, whom they picked up from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline. However, his two rough postseason appearances and the heavy workload he’s accumulated in recent years—despite being just 29—could make that unlikely.
Having already played for five major league teams, it seems likely that Ferguson will soon be searching for team number six.
Luis Castillo – SP
For the final entry on the list, we decided to go with a bit of a wildcard. Castillo is still under contract for at least two more seasons and is set to be the Mariners’ highest-paid player next year at $24 million. However, as he heads into his mid-thirties, there’s uncertainty about how much longer he can continue logging 30-plus starts each year.
If the Mariners can find a team willing to take on Castillo’s full contract this offseason, they might give it serious thought — freeing up payroll space to strengthen their lineup from top to bottom.
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