Seattle Mariners agree terms with France, Murphy and Sewald

The Seattle Mariners confirm they have agreed to deals with three arbitration-eligible players, Ty France, Tom Murphy and Paul Sewald.

The Seattle Mariners have been methodically making roster moves of late, in preparation for the 2023 season. Recent moves include signing A.J. Pollock to a one-year deal and offering Casey Sadler an invite to spring training.

Along these lines, Friday saw the Mariners confirm three deals for the upcoming season. The three players in question are Ty France, Tom Murphy and Paul Sewald, who were all arbitration-eligible.

A career year

France is the highest-profile signing of the three, after enjoying his best season yet in 2022. This included setting career-bests of 20 home runs and 83 RBI.

The 28-year-old’s form — especially during the first half of the season — resulted in earning his first All-Star appearance. According to MLB Network Insider Mark Feinsand, France’s new deal is worth $4.1 million.

As per Feinsand, Murphy’s deal is for $1.625 million. In some respects, the contract speaks volumes about how much the Mariners value him.

Consider that after a strong debut season in Seattle, the 31-year-old missed all of the following year due to a  fractured metatarsal in his left foot. The 2022 campaign saw him only play in 14 games, but the M’s will be hoping he can stay healthy in 2023 and provide reliable depth at the catcher position.

Bullpen strength

As for Sewald, he has proven to be an excellent reliever during his two seasons in Seattle. He was particularly strong last year, as he set career-bests for ERA (2.67), games (65) and WHIP (0.766).

As per Feinsand, the 32-year-old agreed a deal worth $4.1 million to avoid arbitration. He should once again contribute positively to one of the best bullpens in the Majors.

With the deals, the Mariners have three arbitration-eligible players remaining who they have not yet agreed terms with. This includes Diego Castillo, Dylan Moore and Teoscar Hernandez, who they recently traded for.

The Mariners now have 19 players under contract for the 2023 season. The 40-man Major League roster remains full at 40 players.

As we edge ever closer to the new season, where is your confidence level at for the Seattle Mariners? What kind of press do you predict for them in 2023? Let us know in the comments section below.