Ben Gamel Deserves to Start for the Mariners in 2019

There is no question that Denard Span was a pivotal pickup for the Mariners. While he couldn’t propel the team into the playoffs, he did his best to do so while more or less locking down left field. But his future in Seattle is not guaranteed, and Ben Gamel has done everything he can to prove a capable replacement.

One of the more pressing questions for the Mariners early in the offseason will be whether to pick up Denard Span‘s $12 million option. In about a half season, he provided the Mariners with 0.9 fWAR/1.0 rWAR/1.3 WARP, and at that level, he would be somewhat affordable. However, considering his age and surprising success against LHPs, he may not be a good bet to sustain that level…