Kyle Seager Retires After 11 Seasons in Seattle

Kyle Seager, who spent his entire professional career with the Seattle Mariners, announced his retirement on Twitter via his wife Julie. 

A 3rd round draft pick of the Mariners in 2009, Seager reached the majors in 2011 and became the Mariners everyday third baseman in 2012. After earning an AL All-Star Team selection and a Gold Glove in 2014, Seager signed a 7-year $100 million extension. Seager was a durable player. Between 2012 and 2021, the only significant time Seager missed with an injury was a broken left wrist in 2019 which limited him to 106 games. Otherwise, Seager played at least 154 games in every season save for 2020 when he played all 60 games during the COVID shortened campaign. 

In 2021, Seager batted a career low .215 but hit a career high 35 HR with a career high 101 RBIs. The Mariners did have an option on him for the 2022 season for $20 million but bought him out for $2 million. If the Mariners are unwilling to shell out $20 million for Seager then I doubt they'd spend that money on Kris Bryant. I suspect that the Mariners will likely play Canadian born Abraham Toro at third who was acquired mid-season in the controversial Kendall Graveman deal with the Houston Astros. In 11 seasons in Seattle, Seager collected 1395 hits for a lifetime batting average of .251 with 242 HR and 807 RBI in 1480 games played. 

Still, Seager's retirement comes as something of a surprise (though not to himself). At 34, Seager still had potential suitors with the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and a possible reunion with younger brother Corey Seager who signed a long term deal with the Texas Rangers earlier this month. But given the sendoff he was given in Seattle on the last day of the season perhaps the time to exit was now.

Yet I cannot help but wonder if Seager had played five or six more seasons if he would have made a good case for Cooperstown. At present, there are only 17 third basemen in the Baseball Hall of Fame though I think Scott Rolen has a good chance to be inducted next month while Adrian Beltre will be eligible come 2024. Still, if Seager had finished his career with 2,000 plus hits, a couple of more Gold Gloves and maybe a World Series ring (he would never appear in the post-season in Seattle) he would have been given a long look. As it stands now, it would appear the only Hall of Fame he wants induction is in Seager Household in North Carolina.