The Mariners designated hitter position was some what of a joke last year. We saw so many people play in the DH spot last year. Despite all these different players there were a few things in common: Injury problems and lack of offensive output.
This spot in the lineup is usually filled by a good hitter. The Mariners saw hardly and production out of their designated hitters. The line that they put was .194/.269/.340- that’s just wrong! Carlos Zambrano has a career average of .236 in 10 MLB seasons. The Mariners really need to find some pop this year because that number is just embarrassing
So many players played DH last year for the Mariners, there are almost too many to list. The beginning of the year we saw Ken Griffey Jr end his career with the Mariners while playing DH but he put up disappointing numbers. Mike Sweeney started off the season at DH but was traded on later in the season to the Phillies. He hit .263 in 99 at bats. Milton Bradley also saw time here but he dealt with injury problems that sidelined him for a majority of the season. Even when he was healthy he put up poor numbers.
Help didn’t arrive until June 28th when the Mariners acquired Russell Branyan from the Indians and he automatically became Seattle ’s best power hitter. He did experience back problems throughout his time with the Mariners but he was still able to put up good power numbers despite having a very poor average.
![]() |
Russell Branyan |
Looking onto 2011 it seems very easy for the Mariners to improve at this position. Players on the 40 man roster that could see time at DH are Milton Bradley, Mike Carp, Jose Lopez,and Greg Halman. Out of that group I think Bradley will see the most time. I think Lopez will be traded so he shouldn’t factor into the equation. Seattle does have these players on the roster but I don’t think they should be the starting DH. The answer is via free agency or possibly a trade.
Russell Branyan has expressed a strong interest to return to Seattle . He is soon to be 35 and he dealt with back problems throughout the year in 2010 which might affect the Mariners interest in him. He had somewhat of an off season last year hitting .237 but he still hit 25 homeruns. You would figure that Branyan come cheap but this offseason he has stated that power doesn’t come cheaply. He would be a good option for possibly a 1 year deal if it isn’t too pricy.
Rumors have said that the Mariners also are interested in Hideki Matsui. Matsui is a solid left handed bat that could also help out in left field when needed. He hit .274 last year with 21 homeruns and 84 RBI. He is 36 and I figure he would ask for similar numbers compared to Branyan.
Another way the Mariners could go is to trade for a young bat that appears to be blocked by a super star at his current position
![]() |
Yonder Alonso |
One of these guys is 23 year old Yonder Alonso of the Reds. The left handed hitting 1st baseman is blocked by MVP Joey Votto. They have been working with him in LF but I think he is a better fit at 1st. Scouts say he has a poor arm and is bad defensively which makes him a great fit for DH. He did put up somewhat disappointing power numbers last year but he projects to develop a powerful bat. I think he would be made available by Cincinnati .
Another player like this is third baseman Mat Gamel of the Brewers. He is now 25 and both corner infield positions appear to be blocked in Milwaukee with Fielder at first and McGehee at third. He bats left handed and projects to have a great bat. Just like Alonso, scouts are not too thrilled about Gamel’s fielding.
Brandon Laird of the Yankees is another option but he may be a little further away than the other options. He plays third and bats right handed. His power is not nearly as hyped as Alonso’s and Gamel’s but he could post 20 homerun seasons. He shows great gap power with to go along with a good average. Not to mention he knows how to knock runs in, recording 102 RBI last year which the Mariners could use. I don’t see him as any part of the Yankees picture so I would expect him to be traded sometime in the future.
I really like the idea of trading for one of these young bats. A young bat like theirs would look great in the middle of the lineup in a few years to go along with Justin Smoak. Laird appears to need a little more time in the minors as he finished the year at AA but I think that both Alonso and Gamel are ready. I do not think that it would take too much to acquire one of these guys.
Which ever move the Mariners make, they need to improve their DH for the 2011 season. It’s hard to tell which way they will go but I figure they will sign Branyan for 1 year. I would love to see them trade for one of the young guys but Branyan is more of a sure thing despite his age and injury problems.
Who knows, maybe Jack will bring in some big bat at the Winter meetings but until then, Branyan looks like the most realistic choice.