Mitch Haniger bypassed the opportunity to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Mariners, MLBTR has confirmed. The outfielder returns to Seattle on a $15.5MM salary.
There wasn’t much doubt about this decision. Haniger is coming off a second straight down year. He hit .208/.286/.334 across 423 plate appearances. That’s similar production to the middling .209/.266/.365 slash he posted during his first season with the Giants. Haniger had been an above-average hitter over the five years preceding his $43.5MM free agent deal with San Francisco.
Seattle reacquired Haniger last winter alongside Anthony DeSclafani in a deal that sent Robbie Ray to the Giants. Neither side got much out of that trade in the first season. Ray was inconsistent over seven starts and bypassed the chance to opt out of the $50MM remaining on his deal. The M’s did manage to flip DeSclafani as part of the Jorge Polanco trade with Minnesota, but Polanco underperformed while DeSclafani blew out and never pitched for the Twins.
Assuming the Mariners keep Haniger on the roster through the offseason, he’ll compete for a spot in Dan Wilson’s corner outfield/DH rotation. Seattle has Randy Arozarena locked into left field. Victor Robles is the favorite for playing time in right, but he can move into a fourth outfield capacity if the M’s add a bigger bat. Luke Raley should get a decent chunk of playing time at DH, especially if the Mariners acquire a first baseman via free agency or trade.
Nooooooooooooooooooo
Anyone who thought he wasn’t going to exercise his option is crazy. The team traded for him with that contract in place.
On the plus side, he stayed healthy all season.
Them numbers he put up sure AF weren’t “healthy”!!!!
After watching Mitch the last 2 years it must have felt like a foul ball directly to the nuts for Mariners fans when he exercised that option!
Ouch…
That hits a little too close to home lol
oof, tough break mariner fans lol
Jerry Dipoto is the undisputed, three-time defending champion “King of lateral trades”.
At this point its king of losing trades
Jorge Polanco, haniger, urias, all are bad trades with the only good one being Luke raley
That’s a -2 fun differential
Since 2012 the M’s are second only to the Brave’s in greater war than trade partners. He’s over all won more than he’s lost.
I would honestly be surprised if he returns to Seattle. Exercising the option only means he’s guaranteed his salary, it doesn’t guarantee him a spot on Seattle’s roster.
I highly doubt they will eat that money….Just keep him and don’t try to offload that contract in a deal where you get hosed on the other side…
We’re talking about a Jerry-Dipoto front office. Of course they’ll try to move that contract. They moved, Gonzales, White, Ray, and Suárez last offseason. Moving Haniger should be a lot easier.
And everyone of those deals they got ZERO in return!
They go a very expensive roster spot.
Nothing new.
Mitch “hang it up”
He didn’t have an injury last season as an excuse for his poor performance. So I guess it’s just age regression. I thought he would come back to form being healthy and back in friendly Seattle. But no.