How the Seattle Mariners Plan to Use Mitch Haniger Moving Forward

The Seattle Mariners re-acquired veteran outfielder Mitch Haniger last week in a big trade with the San Francisco Giants. They also acquired veteran pitcher Anthony DeSclafani.

After the deal was made official, here's what M's President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto had to say:

“In Mitch, we get a player we know well, and hold in very high regard, as another piece for our outfield, while Anthony -- who can start or pitch out of the ‘pen -- gives us depth in our pitching staff,” 

 “And the deal allows us to put the best team possible on the field from Opening Day on.”

Dipoto also said that Haniger will play the outfield as often as his body allows. Presumably, he can serve as the designated hitter on days when he doesn't play the outfield.

The 33-year-old is a lifetime .256 hitter who has played for the Diamondbacks, Mariners and Giants. He's coming off an injury-plagued season for San Francisco in which he only got 211 at-bats and hit .209 with six homers.

Injuries have unfortunately been part of the story for Haniger, hence the comments by Dipoto. He played just 63 games in 2019, and then missed all of 2020. In 2022, he played only 57 games, and then played only 61 with the Giants in 2023.

His best season came in 2021 for Seattle, when he hit 39 homers and drove in 100. He also made the All-Star team in 2018 when he ended up hitting 26 homers and bringing in 93.

The Mariners went 88-74 last season and missed the playoffs by 1.0 game.