If the Mariners don't get to the playoffs next season, this might be the best thing that comes out of their trade for Seth Smith:
But if they do make the playoffs, Smith might be one of the medium-sized reasons.
The Mariners did finish last season with the fourth-best run differential in the American League, and the signing of Nelson Cruz does fill a massive hole in last season's lineup. But they still seemed maybe one bat short of a good lineup.
Smith's got that bat. He did seem to have his career season with the Padres last season, and can't be reasonably expected to do that again. In fact, considering his career weakness against left-handed pitchers and his shortcoming in the field, he's best deployed in a platoon, and pulled for defense in the late innings.
Unfortunately, potential platoon partner Justin Ruggiano is also a weak fielder. Which means the M's have to either carry five outfielders or just live with lousy defense in right field nearly all the time.
Hey, there are worse things. At least right field at Safeco Field is relatively spare.
Meanwhile, this might be the end of the James Jones Experience in Seattle. He did get a pretty fair shot last summer and didn't hit, and his minor-league track record doesn't suggest he'll ever hit much.
