Mariners Prospect Competition at 3B

by The Congo Hammer on Mar 21, 2026 7:43 AM EDT

A lot of press has been given to the Snider/Thames battle in Toronto, but I consider this the most interesting position-time battle of the spring. Right now, three candidates for the job are all well-regarded prospects and are doing well in their own ways. And there is Chone Figgins. But anyway, onto the interesting names.

Kyle Seager said he made a change in his chance to produce more power. So far it looks like it's working. He hit 3 doubles yesterday and already has 3 Home Runs. He already is a solid all-around hitter with good average and plate discipline in the minors, so he could benefit from adding power to his game. He also has some positional flexibility, having played some SS and 2B. However, he has a 9/0 K/BB ratio so far.

Alex Liddi - Controversial as a prospect for his high strikeout rate, he clearly has power and didn't fall flat on his face in his cup of coffee last year. He is raking so far this spring, showing great HR and extra base power, but hasn't shown a real improvement to indicate growth in plate discipline. His defense might not be good enough for him to stick, but is better than Catricala's. He'll need to have a strong year to avoid getting lost in the shuffle, but he should get a chance.

Vinnie Catricala - The only thing holding him back is his defense. He has a great bat and has shown it in ST, hitting for power and average, and has shown pretty good plate discipline as well. It's unclear how high his offensive upside is... he was drafted as an "organizational guy" but has just hit more and more every year, going gangbusters in 2011, despite lack of fantastic tools. If he could improve his defense to the passable level, he'd be an intriguing option. He still has the potential to be a plus DH, but he will have a harder time finding an opening.

Michael Saunders - Okay, so he's not a third baseman, but he's still a prospect in my eyes, and he directly impacts the outcome of this competition. If he wins the CF job and Figgins takes third instead of center (if anything at all), none of these 3B prospects will get their chance to shine initially. He says he has revamped his swing for more power and has looked good in ST, but color me skeptical... when it comes to hitters adding power, I tend to prefer players that can actually get the bat on the ball. Still, he's 25 and the upside remains high, so the book's not closed on him.

But let's imagine a perfect world where each of these players were given a starting job with a full season of At-Bats, unimpeded by injuries or managerial decisions. What kind of numbers would you expect them to put up? How do you think the situation is going to shake out in real life during the 2012 season?

Poll

Taking projected playing time into account, who will put up the best offensive numbers in the 2012 season?

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Read More: Chone Figgins (3B - SEA), Alex Liddi (1B - SEA), Kyle Seager (3B - SEA), Vinnie Catricala (DH - SEA), Seattle Mariners

Comments

Seager Looks like the safest pick, but Liddi most upside

He’s tore up the minors at the plate, and he had a decent go-around in the Majors last year. Furthermore, he’s still only 24 years old, so he has a couple of years before he reaches his peak years (26). The only thing I question is the power, since he hasn’t showed much in the minors sans a 14 home run season in the Cal League. While Bill Mueller types are useful, they aren’t necessarily the ideal route to go at the position (the Giants can tell you this with Conor Gillaspie).

In terms of upside, I like Liddi. I just think the guy has a legit power tool set and he could flash a Mark Reynolds-esque career. That being said, he also carries the most risk, for he could end up like a Mike Jacobs as well if he doesn’t make enough contact at the Major League level. His plate approach certainly isn’t good and I wonder how much better it’s gonna get at this point in his development.

As for Catricala, I’ve liked him, always been impressed with his performances, but I still see him as an organizational guy, despite his phenomenal numbers. He’s a huge one-trick pony (offense, no defense or speed) and I think nowadays, one-two tool set guys have to be taken with a lot of caution. That being said, if he can do what he did in Double-A again or Triple-A, then I think he merits a shot, even if his tool limitations will prevent him from reaching a higher ceiling.

Optioned to Fresno
A San Francisco Giants Minor League Blog

by objesguy on Mar 21, 2026 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

Liddi hasn't exactly "torn up" the minors

He had a good year in the Cal league in one of the best places to hit in the minors, and was a one-dimensional slugger in another hitter-friendly league last year (in a park that became MUCH more hitter-friendly after they moved the fences in last year). .259/.332/.488 from a bat-only guy in the PCL doesn’t cut it. Barring some sort of miracle overhaul of his approach, Liddi’s major league upside is basically Greg Pirkl, perhaps with slightly more defensive versatility. I’m not a fan at all (if that wasn’t already obvious).

As for Catricala, I’ve liked him, always been impressed with his performances, but I still see him as an organizational guy, despite his phenomenal numbers. He’s a huge one-trick pony (offense, no defense or speed) and I think nowadays, one-two tool set guys have to be taken with a lot of caution.

You’re underrating Catricala. His tools don’t map perfectly onto 3B, but he’s not an unathletic stiff. I have very little doubt he’d be a far better defensive LF than Carp, for instance. And he isn’t a butcher at 3B, he just doesn’t have much range. He makes routine plays just fine. He’s got a very good chance to have a major league future, at least in a super-utility role as a guy who can play all 4 corner spots adequately (and might even be average in the OF). If he can hit .270/.350/.470 or so in the bigs, the team will find a place for him. He’s the best bat they’ve had come through the system in awhile (not counting Ackley, who arrived as a nearly finished product and was fast-tracked, or Montero, who arrives in the system pretty much big-league ready).

Seager’s the most big-league ready of the lot, and I think he gets underrated quite a bit. I think he takes the everyday job by June, starting the season on the bench. A .720-ish OPS from a guy with a decent glove at the position isn’t bad, and there’s room to push that offense up to Brandon Inge-type levels (the good version, circa 2004-2006).

by slamcactus on Mar 21, 2026 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I can understand Liddi, but I'm just not sold on Catricala

You do have a point with Liddi. The k’s are huge, and the fact that he doesn’t generate walks at all is a big red flag. And you’re right, 30 home runs in the PCL doesn’t amount to all that much when you don’t have the overall numbers to back it up. Still though, I’m just impressed with that power tool he sports, and he has showed that his power can carry to the Majors (he did hit 3 in his callup, but as noted, struck out a lot too). Now, he may never be a high average, high OBP guy. But, as I said before, while you think Greg Pirkl in terms of upside, I think Mark Reynolds. I think Liddi has legit 30 home run power. A lot of K’s yes, but like Reynolds, I think Liddi is capable to sport power that will make up for his copious amount of K’s. (though he’ll have to raise his walk rates to be Reynolds-esque and that hasn’t come along as well as people have hoped).

As for Catricala, yes, players do go under the radar at times. But, if there has been one thign that a lot of the prospects in the Giants system have taught me, it’s that unheralded guys initially usually are unheralded for a reason. Catricala was a 10th round pick out of college, and played a whole season in Single A before making the transition to High-A his second full year (and then Double-A). Furthermore, as far as the average defense is concerned, every report I’ve seen has rated his defense and speed as below average. He’s basically a four plus bat with a one-plus defense and speed and that is a huge concern, especially considering he’s still young and in good shape and he still doesn’t get good reports about his speed or defense. When he gets older, it makes me shutter to think what his defense and speed will look like.

I’m not saying I’m totally down on Catricala, just not totally sold like some. I mean, he tore it up in every way imaginable in Double-A in 2011, and still I haven’t seen a lot of publications rank him higher than 10 in the M’s system. That just makes me wonder.

Optioned to Fresno
A San Francisco Giants Minor League Blog

by objesguy on Mar 21, 2026 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Based on the few televised spring training games, he doesn't look all that awful at defense.

by joof on Mar 22, 2026 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I voted for Vinnie.

I really believe in the bat, and reportedly his glove looks at least a bit better in ST.

by kyuss94 on Mar 21, 2026 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

September call-up

I think I’m about as big a Catricala backer as you’ll find on this site (I slightly prefer him over Nick Franklin as a prospect, an opinion I know is not shared by others and will infuriate casejud to no end), but the team isn’t going to rush him to the majors after less than a half-season in Double-A. Maybe if he’s hitting .300/.400/.600 again over the first couple months of this year, but as it stands now I’d be shocked to see him get more than a September call-up this year.

The 3B at-bats will be shared this year by Figgins, Seager, and Munenori Kawasaki, with potential ABs by Liddi and Luis Rodriguez thrown in. Barring another HUGE push to start the year, Catricala will have to percolate another year in the minors, IMO.

by slamcactus on Mar 21, 2026 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions