2010 Seattle Mariners season
The 2010 Seattle Mariners season was the 34th season in franchise history. The Mariners finished the season with 61 wins and 101 losses. As the Texas Rangers won their first pennant that season, the Mariners became one of only two teams to have never played in the World Series, along with the Washington Nationals. Offseason. Coaching staff changes. Most of the 2009 major league coaching staff was retained, with the exception of third base coach Bruce Hines. Mike Brumley was named the new third base coach on October 30, 2009. On December 7, the Mariners announced  their minor league staff. Eriberto Menchaca, who managed the Class-A Clinton LumberKings in 2009, was moved to the rookie-level Pulaski Mariners, Jesus Azuaje was named manager of the rookie-level Peoria Mariners, Tim Laker was named the manager of the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, and Andy Fox was named hitting coach for the Diamond Jaxx. Roster changes. Key departures. On October 19, 2009, catcher Kenji Johjima, the first Japanese-born catcher in Major League Baseball, exercised an opt-out clause in his contract and returned to playing in Nippon Professional Baseball. The Mariners also lost their  home run leader, Russell Branyan, who declined a one-year deal with the Mariners to test the free agent market. Two-time Gold Glove winner Adrián Beltré opted for free agency on November 5, 2009, and later signed with the Boston Red Sox. The third baseman declined $12 million in arbitration from the Mariners only days after the team signed Chone Figgins "(see below)". Beltre officially parted ways with the Mariners when he signed a one-year, $9 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. Pitcher Phillippe Aumont, noted as one of the top prospects in the organization , was sent to the Phillies in the trade for Cliff Lee. Also, pitcher Brandon Morrow was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays as well. Carlos Silva, whose time in Seattle was plagued by injury, was traded to the Chicago Cubs on December 18. Major league acquisitions. Chone Figgins signed a four-year contract valued at $36 million. General manager Jack Zduriencik noted Figgins' versatility on defense and could ask him to play second base as well. Ken Griffey, Jr. returned to the Mariners with a one-year deal after a successful 2009 season and large number of Seattle fans  asking for "one more year." Shortstop Jack Wilson signed a two-year, $10 million deal to remain in Seattle. Wilson was one of the players received from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trading deadline in 2009. On December 14, 2009, the Mariners, along with the three other organizations including the Philadelphia Phillies, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Oakland Athletics agreed to a 4-team, 9-player deal. The Mariners received former Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee from Philadelphia in exchange for three prospects as a complement to ace Félix Hernández. On December 18, 2009, the Mariners traded  pitcher Carlos Silva and cash considerations to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Milton Bradley, particularly noting his offensive capabilities. On December 22, the Mariners traded Brandon Morrow to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Brandon League, and a minor league prospect. The Mariners acquired first baseman Casey Kotchman from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for utility player Bill Hall, a player to be named later, and cash considerations. On January 29, 2010, the Mariner signed outfielder Eric Byrnes to a one-year, $400,000 contract after he was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Mariners signed first baseman Ryan  Garko to a one-year $550,000 contract on February 1. On February 6, the Mariners re-signed pitcher Érik Bédard to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, with a mutual option for 2011. Minor league acquisitions. After the World Series, the Mariners cleared five spots from their 40-man roster after infielder Bryan LaHair, pitchers César Jiménez, Randy Messenger and Marwin Vega were outrighted to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, and pitcher Justin Thomas was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mariners added seven new scouts after the season including the West Coast Supervisor Butch Baccala , Southern California scout John Ramey, Northwest scout Joe Ross, Midwest scout Tony Russo, Southwest scout Jess Kapellusch, Atlantic scout Mike Moriarty, and Gulf Coast scout Devitt Moore. On November 25, the Mariners re-signed minor league pitchers Steve Bray and Steven Shell, and catcher José Yépez. On December 9, the Mariners signed outfielder Corey Patterson to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. It was reported by "Baseball America" that the Mariners signed pitcher Levale Speigner and infielder Travis Denker, and also re-signed pitcher Chris Seddon and Josh Wilson to minor league contracts on December 12 . On December 16, the Mariners signed 19-year-old Brazilian prospect Pedro Okuda to a minor league contract. During the trade for Cliff Lee, the Mariners gave up three prospects including pitchers Phillippe Aumont and J. C. Ramírez and outfielder Tyson Gillies. On December 22, "Baseball America" reported that the Mariners re-signed pitcher Mike Koplove, and signed pitcher David Pauley, and catcher Ralph Henriquez, Jr. During the trade for Brandon League, the Mariners also acquired minor league outfielder Johermyn Chávez from the Blue Jays. On December 28, the Mariners signed catcher Josh Bard, and re-signed pitcher Chad Cordero  to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training. The Mariners signed free agent utility player Chris Woodward, who was in their organization during the first half of the 2009 season, to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. On January 13, the Mariners re-signed first baseman Brad Nelson to a minor league contract with and invitation to spring training. Formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers organization, Jesús Colomé signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Mariners on February 10. On February 12, 2010, the Mariners signed Mike Sweeney, a player  who MLB.com called a "key clubhouse component from the Mariners' dramatic 2009 turnaround", to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Minor league rankings. During the offseason, MLB.com ranked Mariners' first round draft Dustin Ackley as the 15th best prospect in Minor League Baseball. Ackley was also named the best prospect in the Mariners' organization by "Baseball America", followed by outfielder Michael Saunders, catcher Adam Moore, third baseman Alex Liddi, infielder Carlos Triunfel, pitcher Michael Pineda, shortstop Nick Franklin, outfielder Greg Halman, pitcher Dan Cortes, and corner infielder Mario Martínez. "Baseball America" also ranked players by their  specific talents. Ackley was named best hitter for average, Halman was named best hitter for power, and best athlete, outfielder Ezequiel Carrera was named both best strike-zone discipline, and fastest base runner, Pineda was named as having the best fastball, and the best control of pitches, pitcher Josh Fields was named as having the best curveball, pitcher Steven Hensley was named as having the best slider, pitcher Nick Hill was named as having the best changeup, Steve Baron was named the best defensive catcher, Gabriel Noriega was named the best defensive infielder, Triunfel was named as having the best  throwing arm amongst infielders, Saunders was named best defensive outfielder, and James Jones was named as the having the best throwing arm amongst outfielders. Salary arbitration. Five Mariners' players filed for salary arbitration in January 2010. The list of filers included pitchers David Aardsma, Félix Hernández, Brandon League and Mark Lowe, and first baseman Casey Kotchman. On January 18, Aardsma, Hernández and Lowe signed new contracts with the Mariners, avoiding arbitration. Aardsma signed a deal for $2.75 million, and Lowe signed a deal worth $1.15 million. Hernández's five-year deal was worth $80 million. On January  20, the Mariners came to an agreement with League for a one-year $900,000 deal, avoiding arbitration. Kotchman, the last arbitration eligible player on the Mariners roster, agreed to a $3.5 million contract on February 3, avoiding arbitration, and settling all the Mariners' arbitration cases. Spring training. Non-roster invitees. Seattle invited 23 players to spring training including catchers Eliézer Alfonzo, Josh Bard, Steven Baron, Luis Oliveros and Guillermo Quiróz, infielders Tommy Everidge, Brad Nelson, Josh Wilson and Chris Woodward, outfielders Corey Patterson and Mike Wilson, designated hitter Mike Sweeney, and pitchers Jesús Colomé, Chad Cordero, Josh Fields , Nick Hill, Mike Koplove, David Pauley, Yusmeiro Petit, Mauricio Robles, Chris Seddon, Steven Shell and Levale Speigner. Injuries. On February 8, newly acquired pitcher Cliff Lee underwent minor surgery to remove a floating bone spur in his left foot. Lee was expected to be out two-to-three weeks, making him unable to report to spring training at the scheduled time. On March 4, closer David Aardsma experienced tightness in his groin causing him to miss playing time. Shortstop Jack Wilson suffered from right hamstring tightness after a Mariners' game in early March. On March 19, it was announced that  pitcher Cliff Lee could start the season on the disabled list because of a right lower abdominal strain. At the end of spring training, Lee was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the aforementioned reason. On April 3, Mariners' minor leaguer James McOwen dislocated his shoulder while attempting to catch a ball hit by Clint Barmes. Roster moves. On March 10, 2010, the Mariners cut 10 people from their spring roster including Ryan Feierabend, Josh Fields, Steven Shell, Nick Hill, Chris Seddon, Mauricio Robles, Luis Oliveros and Steven Baron. On March 17, the Mariners released pitcher Yusmeiro Petit  whom they had claimed off waivers on November 4, 2009. Michael Saunders, an outfielder who played limited time with the Mariners in 2009, was optioned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on March 18. On March 18, the Mariners traded minor league pitcher Miguel Celestino to the Boston Red Sox to complete the trade for Casey Kotchman. First baseman Mike Carp was assigned to minor league camp on March 25, and was informed that he would start the season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. On March 31, outfielder Corey Patterson opted out of his contract with the Mariners and  field for free agency. Also on March 31, the Mariners assigned pitcher Chad Cordero to minor league camp, and optioned Luke French to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. Regular season. Overview. Retired pitcher Randy Johnson agreed to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the home opener at Safeco Field. Johnson, who spent 10 seasons in Seattle, reportedly accepted the request immediately. In the first game of the seasons against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, the Mariners won by a score of 5–3. Seattle reliever Brandon League got the win while Oakland reliever Brad Ziegler got the  loss. On August 9 manager Don Wakamatsu was dismissed as manager and Daren Brown was named his replacement on an interim basis. The Mariners ended the season scoring only 513 runs, the lowest since the American League (AL) instituted the designated hitter in 1973. Players stats. Batting. "Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Base on balls; SB = Stolen bases; AVG = Batting average" Pitching. "Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA  = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV=Saves; SVO = Saves Opportunity; IP = Innings pitched; H =Hits; ER = Earned runs allowed; HR= Home Run allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts "