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Centerfield is a position with a long and rich history for Seattle. The team’s first-ever Hall of Famer played centerfield. The team’s one real hope going into the upcoming patrols the same ground. It’s a shame not to include future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki in this list. While he did play 322 games in center, he’s most known for his time as a right fielder. With Seattle, that’s where he spent the bulk of his time.
The Five Greatest Center Fielders in Mariners History
Ruppert Jones
Dealt to Seattle in the expansion draft, Ruppert Jones was the first Mariner to take the centerfield reins in 1977. He was also the Mariners’ first All-Star. His ’77 campaign saw him put up 4.1 WAR. A feat that was not matched by a Mariners centerfielder until 1990, by a name you’ll most likely recognize, but we’ll get to later.
Jones’ time in Seattle, while short, was productive. He had 8.1 WAR in three seasons, slashing .257/.333/.418, with 51 home runs and 200 RBI. His All-Star season of 1977, which saw him slash .263/.324/.454 with 24 home runs and 76 RBI, was his best during his Seattle tenure. His 24 home runs would turn out to be his career best, and he would only be 76 RBI one other time, in his third year in Seattle, when he got 78.
Jones was traded to the New York Yankees in 1980 and would spend seven more years in the league before retiring.
Franklin Gutierrez
Franklin Gutierrez, the anchor of the Mariners’ outfield in the late 2000s and early 2010s, was acquired in December of 2008 and would debut for Seattle in 2009. Julio Rodríguez, for 2000s kids, Gutierrez was the power and speed threat the Mariners had been missing.
Much to the chagrin of Mariners’ fans, his time in Seattle was riddled with injuries. He only played in more than 100 games four times in his career, two of which were with Seattle. When he was on the field, though, he was a force for Seattle. His incredible defense paved the way for his bat to shine. No more so than the 2009 season. His first year in the teal and blue saw him hit a career-high 18 home runs and slash .283/.339/.425. The following year, he won his first and only gold glove. The first Mariners outfielder to do so since Ichiro in 2007.
His time in Seattle saw him slash .257/.312/.409 with 74 home runs and 268 RBI. He put up 12.8 WAR across seven seasons.
Mike Cameron
Coming over from the Cincinnati Reds in the deal for Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Cameron was tasked with somehow replacing the Hall of Famer. He did about as good of a job in three seasons as you could. Certainly not the Hall of Fame level player that Griffey was, Cameron provided excellent centerfield defense. On top of that, he had a power and speed combo that few could match. From 2001 to 2003, Cameron put up 14.3 WAR and slashed .253/.345/.451 with 68 home runs and 266 RBI. He also swiped 82 bags, averaging 27 a season.
Cameron earned his first and only All-Star appearance in 2001, a Gold Glove, and even MVP votes. He was a major contributor to the Mariners’ 116-win season in 2001, in which he had his best campaign with Seattle and arguably his best career. He put up a career high 5.9 WAR and 110 RBI. He would go on to win another Gold Glove with Seattle in 2003.
Julio Rodríguez
Instantly a fan favorite after he made the team in 2022, Rodríguez has become the heartbeat of a Mariners team that continues to come oh-so-close to making the playoffs. He was instrumental in ending the drought in his rookie year, where he put up his career-best 6.2 WAR. J-Rod also slashed .284/.345/.509 and hit 28 home runs and 75 RBI. 2025 will be Julio’s fourth big league season, and he’s yet to put up less than 4 WAR.
Back-to-back All-Star appearances and Silver Slugger awards in his first two seasons, no less than 20 home runs, no less than 24 stolen bases. Rodríguez is the best centerfielder the Mariners have had since Griffey. He’s already accounted for 15.9 WAR, 80 home runs, and 246 RBI.
2024 was a down year for the superstar, but he still slashed.273/.325/.409, with 20 home runs and 68 RBI. Julio also plays a tremendous centerfield and could easily have three Gold Glove awards. While 2022 might be his best statistical year, 2024 was his most impactful, putting up a career-high 32 home runs and 103 RBI, finishing fourth in MVP voting.
Ken Griffey Jr.
The only player on this list whose spot was never once in doubt. The earlier 1990 player is Seattle legend and baseball Hall of Famer, Ken Griffey Jr. The first Mariner to go into the Hall of Fame as a Mariner, Griffey received MVP votes in nine of his first 10 seasons. He’s also seventh all-time in home runs with 630.
Griffey was an unstoppable force in the best baseball teams Seattle has ever and will ever see. He never put up a WAR below three during his first 11 years in the league. His MVP-winning season of 1997, where he hit 56 home runs, led the league with 147 RBI and slashed .304/.382/.646, is probably the best season a Mariners player ever will have. The 9.1 WAR he put up in that season, isn’t even his career high. That would be 1996, where he tallied 9.7. Griffey had nine seasons where he put up more than five WAR.; two were over nine, and four total were over seven.
Griffey’s 70.6 WAR with Seattle is the franchise high, with fellow Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez in second place at 68.4. To put that into perspective, the active Mariner with the most is J.P. Crawford with 17.5, not much more than Julio Rodriguez’s 15.9. He also holds the franchise record for home runs and RBI in a season, with 56 and 147.
Griffey inspired a generation of Seattle baseball fans and is easily the best player to grace the Mariners lineup.
More must-reads:
- Best MLB trades from the last decade: American League
- Best MLB trades from the last decade: National League
- The '250-strikeout MLB seasons' quiz
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Cubs Predicted To Sign Star Outfielder To Mega-Deal This Winter
It has been a fantastic season for the Chicago Cubs, and a significant reason is because of a singular offseason decision. After winning 83 games the past two seasons, the Cubs got aggressive during the offseason to improve. Chicago was a team that was heading in the right direction but lacking a superstar to help push them over the top. To the surprise of many, they were able to accomplish that with a blockbuster trade that brought Kyle Tucker of the Houston Astros in. Before being traded to Chicago, Tucker was establishing himself as a star with the Astros, but he may have flown under the radar a bit with some other big names on the team. For four straight years, he was able to total a bWAR of 4.5 or higher, with his bWAR being over 5.0 in three of those campaigns. Even though he might not have been a national name before the trade, Tucker was a key part of the success for Houston. Tucker's cost The price to acquire him certainly wasn’t cheap for the Cubs. They sent three very good players to the Astros, with Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith both having a massive impact already for Houston. It was a steep price for a player entering the final year of his contract, and that is something that is still looming over the heads of the organization. Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report recently predicted that Tucker would sign an 11-year, $441 million deal this offseason to remain with the Cubs. “Without so much as a close runner-up, Kyle Tucker is the crown jewel of this year's free agency class.” While the numbers might seem big for the proposed contract, Tucker is a true star in the game and is going to certainly be getting north of $400 million. When looking at the recent contract extension for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, he is going to be making an average salary of just over $35 million per year throughout his contract. That seems like a fair spot to start for Tucker, who is going to be the top prize in free agency. Luckily, what could end up benefiting the Cubs is that there might not be a ton of competition to sign him in free agency. Juan Soto’s price went through the roof with the New York Mets and New York Yankees both pursuing him last winter. However, as of now, the market for Tucker might not be as crazy as it has been in recent years. For the Cubs, keeping Tucker this winter is going to be their top priority and would be a crushing blow if they lost him in free agency. The Latest Chicago Cubs News Division Matchups And Blue Jays Clash Set Tone For Cubs Playoff Chase Cubs Should Avoid Reunion With Recently Released Former All-Star Pitcher Cubs Star Prospect Owen Caissie Reacts To MLB Trade Deadline, Not Being Moved Cubs New Starting Pitcher Set To Debut Against Reds Next Week
Steelers Fans Watch As Stephen A. Smith Destroys George Pickens In Epic Rant: 'Pick Up A Book'
Now, the Steelers’ wide receiver room is in an interesting spot. With Pickens gone, Metcalf is the clear number one option, but there are questions about who will step up behind him. Meanwhile, Pickens seems to be enjoying his time in Dallas. He has taken a few subtle jabs at the Steelers, suggesting he is in a better place and even praising the Cowboys for their Super Bowl history. His comments have raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. One person who wasn’t impressed was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. During a passionate segment on First Take, Smith ripped into Pickens for his remarks about the Cowboys being a Super Bowl team. He reminded Pickens that the Steelers are the more successful franchise and questioned whether the receiver understood what he was saying. Smith didn’t hold back, calling on Pickens to "pick up a book" and making it clear that he found the comments not only disrespectful, but uninformed. "Let me pause for a second and look in the camera for a second at George Pickens," Smith said. "I like George Pickens. He can ball, and I am sorry that he is gone from the Steelers and has now been contaminated by that Dallas Cowboys fan base." Pickens’ comments were very interesting. It’s no secret he feels a certain way about how the Steelers traded him. He’s been trying to keep a positive mindset about his new situation in Dallas, but it’s clear he’s made it a priority to throw in a few subtle jabs. Pickens said he understands the camaraderie in Dallas more than he ever did with the Steelers. He also claimed the Cowboys are synonymous with Super Bowls, which was a controversial statement considering the Steelers have more championships all-time than Dallas. "Here’s the deal," Smith said. "George Pickens, do you have any idea? When you talk about the Super Bowl and the Cowboys, you do understand that the Steelers are the more successful franchise. Did you know that? Did you know that? Do you understand what the he** you are saying? I mean, my God, you talk about a brother who needs to pick up a book. I am sorry, but I just have to call him out on that." Smith made it very clear that he thinks Pickens is a great football player and that he’s still a fan of his, even though he’s no longer on the Steelers. When you consider what Pickens was able to accomplish during his three seasons in Pittsburgh, it’s impressive. He played in one of the worst offenses in the NFL, yet he still managed to produce and deliver some truly exciting moments despite the team’s struggles. Steelers Fans Still Curious About George Pickens Now he finds himself in a much better offensive situation in Dallas, but from a franchise and team standpoint, the Cowboys are in a worse position than the Steelers. That’s why Pickens’ recent comments didn’t make much sense and why Smith felt the need to call him out during his epic rant. Many Steelers fans remain divided on the Pickens trade. Although he’s no longer in Pittsburgh, a lot of fans will continue to keep tabs on how he performs with the Cowboys. Whether out of frustration, curiosity, or lingering support, Pickens' journey in Dallas will be closely watched by Steeler Nation.
Minnesota Vikings Concerned About Performance Of One Critical Position
The NFL preseason is a time for optimism—a chance for fans and coaches alike to dream about overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness. But for Minnesota Vikings fans, there’s one lingering issue that tempers any excitement year after year: the team’s ongoing struggle to find consistency at the kicker position. Now, as training camp unfolds, that familiar uncertainty has crept back in. The Vikings’ current kicker, Will Reichard, is facing scrutiny following a shaky camp performance that has reignited concerns about whether Minnesota can finally close the book on its long, frustrating history with kickers. Minnesota Vikings: A Rocky Start for Will Reichard in 2025 Struggles in Training Camp Will Reichard came to the Minnesota Vikings with high expectations. After being selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he was viewed as a potential long-term solution to the team’s troubles at kicker. For a brief moment early in his rookie season, it seemed like the Vikings had struck gold—Reichard began his career with a perfect 14-for-14 streak on field goals, including four impressive conversions from beyond 50 yards. But things began to unravel. A quad injury midway through the season disrupted his rhythm, keeping him sidelined for four games and impacting his performance upon his return. Over his final five games, Reichard made just 10 of 14 field goal attempts, missing key kicks that left fans uneasy. Fast forward to training camp in 2025, and Reichard’s form appears to still be a work in progress. Reports from camp have described misses on routine field goal attempts, including two inside 40 yards during a recent session. These struggles are especially concerning for a team that frequently finds itself involved in close games where field position and special teams play a pivotal role. Root Causes of Reichard’s Struggles Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels acknowledged earlier this offseason that Reichard’s exhaustive rookie year may have played a role in his late-season slide. “The guy basically played eleven straight months of football without a break,” Daniels said, referencing his college playoff games, Senior Bowl participation, and NFL pre-draft commitments. This demanding schedule, combined with the physical toll of an NFL season, may have contributed to the quad injury and subsequent dip in performance. But excuses, while understandable, won’t satisfy Vikings fans who’ve grown weary of the team’s perpetual kicking carousel. The NFL is an unforgiving league, and the clock is ticking for Reichard to prove he can handle the pressure that comes with being an NFL kicker. The Vikings’ Troubled History with Kickers A Legacy of Heartbreak For much of their history, the Minnesota Vikings have been haunted by a seemingly endless cycle of kicker-related heartbreak. From missed playoff kicks to ill-fated experiments with new talent, the team’s inability to find stability at the position has cost them dearly. One of the most infamous moments came during the 1998 NFC Championship Game, when Gary Anderson—who had been perfect all season—missed a critical field goal that ultimately contributed to the Vikings’ loss. More recently, a missed 27-yard field goal by Blair Walsh during the 2015 playoffs sent shockwaves through a stunned fanbase. These moments aren’t just isolated mistakes; they’ve cast a long shadow over the franchise, leaving kickers who wear the Vikings jersey under unparalleled scrutiny. High Expectations in a High-Pressure Role The psychological toll of being a Vikings kicker is difficult to overstate. For any player stepping into the role, the expectations are sky-high, and even minor errors are magnified. It’s a position where good performance is expected but rarely celebrated, and failure—however fleeting—can define a career. This legacy of intense pressure raises questions. How much of the Minnesota Vikings’ kicker struggles are physical, and how much is mental? With Reichard now under the microscope, the team must evaluate whether his training camp struggles are a short-term hiccup or indicative of deeper issues. What Comes Next for the Minnesota Vikings? Patience or Panic? The NFL preseason offers Reichard a chance to put his training camp woes behind him. Preseason games, while still lower-stakes than the regular season, are a litmus test for kickers. If Reichard can bounce back and deliver reliable performances, he could cement his spot as the team’s starter before Week 1. But if the struggles persist, the Vikings may be forced to revisit their options. With veteran free agents potentially available and camp cuts creating opportunities, Minnesota could bring in competition to push Reichard or provide a backstop in case things continue to go south. Fixing Fundamentals Some factors affecting Reichard’s performance may extend beyond his own capabilities. The kicking operation—the trio of kicker, holder, and long snapper—requires precision. Reports from training camp indicate the team is testing new holding candidates, which could add instability to Reichard’s attempts. Straightening out these technical aspects will be critical as the team evaluates its special teams unit. A Familiar Feeling for Fans For Vikings fans, anxiety over the kicker spot is nothing new. Every wide-left miss or low-pressure shank in camp feels like déjà vu, a reminder of past heartbreaks that are all too fresh in their minds. But while skepticism runs high, so does the cautious hope that this time—finally—the team may find a solution. Final Thoughts The Minnesota Vikings’ search for consistency at the kicker position remains an ongoing saga, with Will Reichard’s training camp struggles adding another chapter to a story that’s defined by frustration and unmet expectations. However, the preseason still offers hope—hope that Reichard can reset and realign before the stakes become real. For now, though, the Minnesota Vikings walk a tightrope. If Reichard can rise to the challenge, stabilize his form, and deliver when it matters most, he could put an end to years of uncertainty. But if the struggles continue, the team must act quickly to avoid letting special teams woes derail another season. For Vikings fans, all they can do is hold their collective breath—and hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
Broncos' Sean Payton adds to Bo Nix hype with bold prediction
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton believes his team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender after quarterback and 2024 first-round draft pick Bo Nix was better than advertised as a rookie starter. During a recent chat with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Payton gave the Nix hype train some extra momentum via a bold prediction regarding what the 25-year-old will be a couple of years down the road. "I honestly think he’s gonna be one of the top quarterbacks within the next two years," Payton said about Nix. "I think he’s going to be a superstar." Some suggested in the spring of 2024 that Payton and Co. reached when they made Nix the 12th overall pick of last year's draft. Nix then went 10-7 as a starter as he guided the club to a playoff berth. Per Pro Football Reference, Nix ended the 2024 regular season ranked sixth in the NFL with 29 touchdown passes, 12th with 3,775 passing yards and 19th among qualified players with a 56.8 adjusted QBR. In total, 23 quarterbacks took more sacks than Nix (24) during the campaign. According to StatMuse, no signal-caller took more sacks than Russell Wilson did with the Broncos from Week 1 of the 2022 campaign through the end of the 2023 regular season. "Who gets the blame? 'God, the line’s gotta get better.' And it’s always the line. The sack is a quarterback stat," Payton added. "We had 24 [in 2024]. I had Bobby Hoying [in the late 1990s], third-round pick. Man, he was a great-looking prospect. He took three or four sacks a game. It’s a processing thing. It’s decision-making, multi-tasking, ball out." As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Broncos at -140 betting odds to make the playoffs for the upcoming season. Somewhat interestingly, that same outlet had Nix and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams at +3500 odds to claim the Most Valuable Player Award for the campaign. If Nix can follow in Stafford's footsteps through early 2026, Payton could be right about the current Denver squad competing for more than just a postseason berth.
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