Seattle Mariners: Jesse Winker likely done for 2022

Due to a neck injury, Seattle Mariners starting left fielder Jesse Winker is now done for the year.

Last off-season, the Seattle Mariners dipped into their highly touted farm system to acquire left-handed bat Jesse Winker and slugger Eugenio Suarez from Cincinnati.

When Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto made the deal, the Initial reaction was that landing Winker was a great pickup, just what the M’s needed. The struggling Suarez was an afterthought. Hopefully, the M’s could get something out of him.

As it turned out, Suarez was the huge get, and Winker was more of a stinker. The third baseman is having one of the best seasons of his career. And it’s not just all about what he’s doing at the plate. He’s playing really good defense at the hot corner.

Meanwhile, Winker’s defense was just as advertised, below average. Typically, his bat has been able to justify his play on the field. This season he stayed in the lineup despite his poor defense due to all the injuries to Seattle Mariners outfielders.

With Winker in the fold, fans wondered back in April about how M’s manager Scott Servais would juggle so many good outfielders. Someone had to be the odd man out. Who among Kyle Lewis, Mitch Haniger, Winker, Julio Rodriguez, or Jarred Kelenic would become the designated hitter, and who would ride the pine?

As it wound up, the better question was which one of these guys could stay healthy or productive enough to play.