Kyle

Seager

The 34-year-old Seager somewhat surprisingly opted for retirement over the winter after 11 years with the Mariners. That the Rangers could have united him with younger brother Corey on the left side of the infield must have been somewhat tempting, but Kyle has no plans to return.

The news was revealed via his wife Julie’s personal Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon. Seager wrote in a short statement posted there: “Today I am announcing my retirement from Major League Baseball. Thank you to all of my family, friends and fans for following me throughout my career. It’s been a wonderful ride but I am unbelievably excited for the next chapter of my life.” The 34-year-old third baseman became a free agent in October after the Mariners declined his $20 million option for 2022. He compiled a .251/.321/.442 career batting line with 1,395 hits and 242 home runs over 11 major league seasons, all with Seattle.

Divish originally wrote that simply Seager was emailed in regard to the team’s decision, but that left out some important context. Mariners assistant general manager Justin Hollander also reached out to Seager’s representative, Andrew Lowenthal of Jet Sports, to let him know what was happening. Divish corrected the record in a Twitter thread on Monday, which should hopefully take the heat off Hollander. Either way, the decision has been made and Seager will hit free agency this offseason.

The email was from assistant GM Justin Hollander and was not send off that a veteran fan favorite who has been a part of the Seattle organization since 2009 deserved. Seager posted a .212/.285/.438 slash line with 35 home runs and 101 RBI over 670 plate appearances this season. The soon to be 33-year-old should draw plenty of interest on the free agent market.

President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto wouldn’t commit to the decision on Seager one way or another when asked, but Divish hears that the club is likely to decline. Seager set career highs with 35 home runs and 101 RBI this season, although the 33-year-old sported just a .212/.285/.438 batting line.

Seager did play nine innings at third base on Wednesday and went 3-for-5 while tallying his 35th home run and 100th RBI of the season, so this elbow issue wouldn’t seem to be an overly serious concern. Dylan Moore will handle the hot corner in Thursday’s matinee at Oakland.

Seager has shown off the power in 2021, but has not done much in terms of helping in the average category. He helped fantasy managers in that regard on Monday, doubling in two runs in the third and driving in another run in the fifth. Those three RBI bring his total to 99, and all but assure he’ll finish the season over the century mark in that category. That along with 34 homers are nice, but the .211 average he sports has made Seager a flawed -- to put it mildly -- fantasy option.

Seager bopped a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning. The long ball was his 34th of the season. On the whole this summer, the veteran third baseman is hitting .212/.285/.455 with the aforementioned 34 homers, plus 94 RBI and three steals across 137 games played. The 34 homers are a career-best mark for the slugger with another few weeks still remaining on the schedule before we can call it a close on the 2021 regular season.

Seager had been hitless in four at-bats on the day, but that didn’t stop him from playing the role of hero in this one, lining a two-run double into right field off of Taylor Clarke to put the M’s on top to stay. With the 1-for-5 effort the 33-year-old slugger is now hitting .214/.288/.455 with 33 homers and 93 RBI on the year.

Seager got the Mariners on the board before an out was recorded in the first inning, smacking a three-run shot off of Humberto Castellanos. He then delivered the difference-maker with a go-ahead three-run shot off of Caleb Smith in the sixth inning. With the monster 2-for-5 night, Seager is now slashing .214/.289/.455 with 33 homers and 91 RBI on the season.