Mariners, All-Star OF Jesse Winker avoid arbitration with two-year, $14.5M deal
The Seattle Mariners acquired both slugging outfielder Jesse Winker and power-hitting infielder Eugenio Suarez in a six-player trade with the Cincinnati Reds in March. Seattle announced on Thursday that the team had agreed with one of the All-Stars on a short-term contract extension to avoid arbitration.
According to the Mariners public relations department, all 40 players on Seattle's MLB 40-man roster have now been signed through 2022.
While Winker is coming off arguably his best big-league campaign in 2021, the start to his Mariners career has been slow from an offensive perspective. The 28-year-old lefty enters Friday with a career-low slash line of .214/.326/.308, though he currently leads the American League in walks with 38.
Last year, Winker made his first All-Star team and finished the season with career highs across the board in home runs (24), RBIs (71), runs scored (77), hits (129) and doubles (32), while slashing a career-best .305/.394/.556.
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