BREAKING: Seattle Mariners Make Shocking Decision with Highly-Paid Outfielder
The Seattle Mariners made a somewhat shocking decision by releasing outfielder Mitch Haniger on Sunday.
The team's PR group made the announcement on social media.
The @Mariners have released outfielder Mitch Haniger.
— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) March 23, 2025
“Putting on a Mariners uniform and playing at T-Mobile Park is something I’ll cherish forever." -- Mitch Haniger
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From a team-issued press release:
“Mitch has been a significant part of Mariners history and will be missed,” Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto said. “The day he arrived for his first spring training back in 2017, he established himself as one of the most focused, prepared, and hardest working players I’ve ever been around. We all appreciate the many ways he’s made us all better, on the field and off.”
Haniger, 34, will now look for another opportunity as he's headed into the ninth full season of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Mariners and San Francisco Giants. A career .250 hitter, he was an All-Star for the M's in 2018 and hit 39 homers back in 2021. He hit only .208 last season with 12 homers and 44 RBI. He hadn't played since March 8 because of shoulder discomfort.
Unfortunately, he's battled several injuries throughout his career that have robbed him of his true prime. Despite that, he's been one of the more revered Mariners since arriving before the 2017 season. His base hit to keep the Mariners' playoff hopes alive in 2021 is one of the great moments of the last five years of Mariners baseball.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME MITCH HANIGER?! MARINERS TAKE THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/9WGTkta71p
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 3, 2021
The Mariners will still owe him $15.5 million this season, and though the financial aspect will likely hurt ownership and the front office, it does open the roster and allow for more flexibility.
The Mariners open the regular season on Thursday. We'll have more reaction to this story throughout the day, and we'll dedicate a significant amount of Tuesday's "Refuse to Lose" podcast to this news.
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