Mariners extend Dylan Moore through 2025
SEATTLE -- Dylan Moore agreed to a three-year extension with the Mariners that runs through 2025, the team announced on Wednesday.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but a source told MLB.com that it is worth $8.875 million with escalators could take the value to $9 million. Moore, who hadn¡¯t yet agreed to terms on a 2023 contract in his second year of arbitration-eligibility, is now locked up for his final two arbitration years and one free-agent season.
¡°I am thrilled to continue playing in front of the incredible Mariners fans," Moore said. "There is a lot of talent in our clubhouse, and we are excited to bring a championship to the Pacific Northwest.¡±
Moore is recovering from offseason surgery on his core that had been nagging him since late August, when he went on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. He recently experienced a minor setback, Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said during Seattle¡¯s Spring Training preview, but he should be ready for Opening Day.
Moore, 30, is coming off arguably his most productive season yet (excluding the COVID-impacted 2020), having slashed .224/.368/.385 (.753 OPS) with six homers, 11 doubles, two triples, 24 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 104 games, good for 126 wRC+ (league average is 100) and 2.1 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs. A favorite of manager Scott Servais for his diligent preparation and availability, Moore has emerged as Seattle¡¯s most versatile player, having manned every position last year except for pitcher and catcher.
But with the Mariners¡¯ 2023 roster construction -- with more outfield depth and platoon advantages with their infield -- he¡¯s slated for a far more specialized middle-infield role, backing up shortstop J.P. Crawford and new second baseman Kolten Wong, both lefty hitters. The righty-hitting Moore had a .796 OPS against lefties last year compared to a .714 mark against righties.
However, health to the rest of the roster could dictate where Moore plays. For example, he played a serviceable center field for seven games while Julio Rodr¨ªguez was sidelined last year.
Moore signed with the Mariners in November 2018, and he was one of the many unproven players that earned regular playing time during Seattle¡¯s talent-evaluation stages in 2019-20, carving out a long-term role for his versatility and production as the team returned to relevancy. He¡¯s the latest among the Mariners¡¯ core to sign a multi-year extension, joining Rodr¨ªguez, Crawford, starting pitchers Marco Gonzales and Luis Castillo and reliever Andr¨¦s Mu?oz.
In other arbitration news, reliever Diego Castillo lost his case against the club recently, a source told MLB.com¡¯s Mark Feinsand, making Castillo the first player to go to a hearing in the Dipoto era (since 2015). The righty will earn $2.95 million in 2023 after filing for $3.225 million. That leaves new outfielder Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez -- who filed at $16 million against the club¡¯s $14 million -- as the lone arbitration-eligible player yet to agree to terms. If the two sides don¡¯t agree, Hern¨¢ndez this month could also go to a hearing.
ESPN¡¯s Jeff Passan was the first to report Moore¡¯s extension.