Mariners, All-Star OF Jesse Winker avoid arbitration with two-year deal

The Mariners and outfielder Jesse Winker avoided arbitration, coming to terms on a two-year deal that will take Winker through his last two seasons of arbitration eligibility before free agency, per the team. The Mariners have no more remaining arbitration cases.

Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed, but we do know that it does not change Winker’s trajectory for free agency. He is still on track to hit the open market following the 2023 season. For the Mariners, this timeline makes a fair amount of sense as they wait for their host of young outfielders to establish themselves as big league regulars.

Winker was an All-Star for the first time last season, starting the game in left field after a monster first half. Injuries limited him to 110 games, but he still finished the year with a robust .305/.394/.556 line. Despite Winker’s stellar campaign (or maybe because of it), the Reds shipped Winker with Eugenio Suarez to the Mariners for Jake Fraley, Justin Dunn, Brandon Williamson and a player to be named later that became Connor Phillips.

The 28-year-old Winker has yet to find his stroke this season despite leading the American League in walks. He currently boasts a .214/.326/.308 lin through 264 plate appearances while mostly holding court in left field.