2015 Seattle Mariners Season Preview - glenzariczny's Dynasty

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2015 Seattle Mariners Season Preview

Posted on April 13, 2015 at 02:57 AM.

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Mariners look to live up to the hype in 2015

For the first time in a long time, the Seattle Mariners enter a season with sky high expectations. Coming off of an impressive 87-75 campaign a year ago that found them just one game out of the teams first playoff spot in over a decade, the Mariners now look to build on their strong pitching with the addition of the MLB home run champ Nelson Cruz to bolster their offense. The Mariners have been picked by more than a few to not only win the AL West, but do damage beyond that as well.

Key Additions:

DH/OF Nelson Cruz - Cruz came off of a PED suspension in 2013 to lead the league in HR's in 2014 while seemingly having put his PED woes behind him. Cruz gives the Mariners an added RH presence in the meat of the order to be sandwiched between all-stars Robinson Cano, and Kyle Seager, and for the first time since the Griffey, Edgar, Buhner days, the Mariners have a big time 3-4-5 presence in their lineup.

SP J.A. Happ - Happ came over in a trade that will get more detailed in a moment. A solid starter thoughout his career, the Mariners believe his skill set will transfer well to pitching in a ballpark like Safeco Field.

Key Losses:

1B Justin Smoak - Smoak got every chance possible with the Mariners, and while his glove was solid, he offensively never lived up to the hype that made him the key piece in the Cliff Lee trade from years past. Smoak has now moved on to Toronto clearing the way For Logan Morrison to become the M's everyday man at first.'

OF Michael Saunders - Saunders was the man traded for J.A. Happ. A solid contributor when he was in the lineup, unfortunately for Seattle that was not all that often as Saunders could never seem to stay consistently healthy in his time with the Mariners. He will be replaced with a platoon of Seth Smith, and Justin Ruggiano.

Prediciton:

The Mariners have enough fire power to make all kinds of noise in a wide open American League. The Starting pitching is as good as it gets in baseball, and if the bullpen can even come close to duplicating it's 2014 performance runs will be tough to come by against the M's. Couple that with an offensive boost in the middle of their everyday lineup, and the Mariners should be expected to compete for, if not be the favorites for the American League pennant this season.

92-70 (1st Place AL West, American League Champions)