Here's What Mitch Haniger Had to Say After Surprising Seattle Mariners Release on Sunday

The Seattle Mariners made the surprising decision to release former All-Star outfielder Mitch Haniger on Sunday.

Haniger, 34, has appeared in part of eight major league seasons, including six with the Mariners. A former All-Star (2018), Haniger is beloved by fans and he helped usher in a new era of M's baseball when he arrived in 2017.

However, his body often betrayed him. He played just 63 games in 2019 and then missed all of the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He played only 57 games in 2022 and 61 in 2023 for the San Francisco Giants. Though he played in 121 games for the Mariners in 2024, he hit just .208 with 12 homers and 44 RBI. There were questions about his bat speed, power and overall athleticism.

All that said, when he was right, he was special to watch. Haniger hit 26 homers in that 2018 season, producing a 6.5 WAR. He hit 39 homers and drove in 100 runs for the M's in 2021 as they came painfully close to a playoff berth.

The Mariners will still owe him $15.5 million this season. As the release was made public, here's what Haniger had to say via a press release:

“Putting on a Mariners uniform and playing at T-Mobile Park is something I’ll cherish forever,”Mitch Haniger said. “To our fans, my teammates, and everyone a part of this organization, thank you for embracing my family and me. We have so many great memories to look back on.”