As the heartbreak of 2023 slowly fades away, the nerves and excitement for 2024 flood in.

The 2023 season was…a mixed bag, to say the least, for the Seattle Mariners. If you had told me before the season started that they were going to have their best month in franchise history, I would’ve told you they were going to win it all. In reality, Seattle missed playoffs by a game and spent October yet again watching a divisional rival win it all. Brutal.

However, there were a few bright spots along the way. You can’t forget Eugenio Suarez‘s walk-off bomb against the Pittsburgh Pirates or J.P. Crawford’s sensational breakout campaign. Looking into next year, let’s see who can lead Seattle to glory.

Seattle Mariners 2024 Season Awards Predictions

Silver Slugger

In recent years, Seattle has become a pitching powerhouse. But their offense has mightily failed to pull their weight. George Kirby paying homage to Seattle legend Felix Hernandez on his Mariners Hall of Fame induction night while pitching nine scoreless ultimately to lose one nothing in extras comes to mind. That was and has been the Seattle story for a long time. Second base specifically has been a problem position for some time. Many have tried, and many have failed. With some creative, strong offensive additions, let’s see who can be a difference-maker for Seattle in 2024.

Honorable mentions: Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Jorge Polanco

Winner: J.P. Crawford

Predicted Stats: .272 | 18 HR | 73 RBI

J.P. Crawford was the livewire the Mariners’ offense needed all year long in 2023. He provided clutch walkoffs when his team needed it the most. His most consistent season so far saw him put up career highs in walks, home runs, and RBIs. It also saw him OPS above .800 for the first time in his career, slashing .266/.380/.438 with 19 home runs and 65 RBIs.

Crawford had already established himself as a fan favorite in Seattle, but his lackluster offensive performances were wearing fan’s patience thin. The city knew he was capable of more. They knew he was capable of matching his stellar defensive performances at the plate, and he finally did. In 2023, the new-look Crawford finished fifth on the Mariners in home runs, fifth in RBIs, second in batting average, and tied for first with Rodriguez in OPS.

The Gold-Glove award-winning shortstop impressed the Seattle faithful with a breakout season. The future is looking bright for the 28-year-old, and I can see yet another offensively productive season from him.

Most Valuable Player

Honorable mentions: J.P. Crawford, Cal Raleigh, Luis Castillo, George Kirby

Winner: Julio Rodriguez

Predicted Stats: .297 AVG | 41 HR | 101 RBI

It just has to be Julio, doesn’t it? His second year in the league and he’s already put up 30 HR and 30 steal seasons. Rodriguez started the year slowly. He didn’t even consistently hit above .250 until July. His scorching August led a red-hot Mariners team to a game out of the playoffs.

Instantly a fan favorite, J-Rod followed up his record-breaking rookie year with a record-breaking sophomore year. He slashed .275/.333/.485 with 32 home runs and 103 RBIs. He led the Mariners in hits, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, slugging, and total bases. Julio has done nothing but improve and I see his junior campaign going no different.

The face of the Mariners, and Seattle, there wasn’t a more obvious choice out there.

Cy Young

Growing up in the Safeco Field era of Mariners baseball, I witnessed a lot of bad pitching, and I mean a lot. It’s funny to think that pitching is now the main strength of the club. From young drafted and developed starters to blockbuster ace trades to elite relievers plucked out of thin air, there is no shortage of options for this team.

Honorable Mentions:  George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Matt Brash

Winner: Luis Castillo

Predicted Stats: 2.97 ERA | 237 K | 201.2 IP

Another obvious answer. Although he crumbled under the pressure when it mattered most, Castillo lived up to his ‘La Piedra’ nickname, being the rock of Seattle’s rotation in 2023. He went at least five innings in all but one of his starts, pitching to a 14-9 record with a 3.34 ERA. He struck out 219 batters in 197 innings. He led the Mariners in games, K’s, and innings pitched. Castillo did nothing except show why the Mariners spent big on him.

The Mariners have cemented themselves as playoff contenders after they put up back-to-back 90-win seasons in ’21 and ’22. ’23 was more of the same, with 88 wins, but heartbreakingly, they fell just short. Some big additions on both sides of the plate are giving fans no reason to be anything but excited for the season to come.

I predict the Seattle Mariners to finish at 91-71 and hopefully advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2001. A World Series appearance would be nice, but a man can dream.

Main Image: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports