The hot stove is already heating up in the Emerald City. Even before free agency officially kicks off at 2 PM PT today, your Seattle Mariners have been busy, scooping up outfielder Grant McCray from the San Francisco Giants and RHP Isaac Mattson from the Pittsburgh Pirates via waivers. These are not just casual moves; they signal the M’s are serious about addressing roster depth that failed to produce big last year.
The McCray Paradox: Cannon Arm vs. Contact Issues
McCray’s arrival is a classic M’s depth play, but don’t sleep on what he brings. This 25-year-old, claimed last week, gives us tri-positional defensive coverage, and watching him roam an outfield is reportedly graceful and impressive. He runs hard, plays hard, and hits the ball hard. Plus, he’s got a cannon for an arm and elite foot speed, something that was *sorely missing* from our outfield beyond Julio Rodriguez this past year. Think about that, Seattle, a real outfield arm!
But yeah, the dude’s been “sledding uphill at the dish” since his 2024 big league debut. The Gigantes took him 87th overall back in 2019, and they gave their “hard-charging youth” extended chances, but he’s punched out nearly 40% of the time in his 247 career plate appearances over three seasons. That contact is the make-or-break, even with a 12% barrel rate. It’s a family thing too, with his dad Rodney McCray playing pro ball for parts of three years and having a legendary blooper moment running through a right field fence in Portland, Oregon with the Vancouver Canadians. You’ve probably seen that on a blooper reel, and his son plays with similar fearlessness.
Mattson on the Mound, Offseason Roster Shuffle Begins
Then there’s Isaac Mattson, who we added Monday. He’s a 31-year-old righty we claimed from the Pirates. His pro journey took him from the Anaheim Angeles of Orange County, who drafted him, to the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 in a deal for Dylan Bundy, something I would have assured you occurred 25 yea.
These waiver claims aren’t the “big shakes” like the Michael Toglia addition back in October, but they speak volumes about the M’s roster struggles. Our depth just didn’t produce like it used to. With free agency opening and that 40-man roster needing to be a true 40, guys like Logan Evans and Brennen Davis need spots found since the 60-day injured list disappears in the offseason. Plus, let’s not forget, we’re still “circling our candidates for manager”!
So, what’s the play here? These are moves aimed at shoring up that depth, grabbing guys with tools, even if they come with some question marks. The real action begins today at 2 PM PT when free agency officially opens. Get ready, Seattle, because the M’s are just getting started in shaping the roster, and finding the right skipper, to bring us back to where we belong. This offseason is going to be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lookout Landing.
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