Buster Olney Says Mariners Could Expand J.P. Crawford DH Days — Espn Mlb
mlb insider Buster Olney said the Mariners could give J.P. Crawford more designated hitter days as the season goes on, a sign Seattle may start reworking how it uses its longest-tenured player. The discussion lands as Colt Emerson closes in on a promotion and Crawford’s shortstop future comes under real pressure.
Olney On Crawford
“Yes. I think that there are times when you'll see different mix,” Olney said on the Refuse to Lose podcast, describing a setup that could include more DH days or more off days for aging stars. He also said, “They tried to mix in those kind of days.”
Crawford entered play on Saturday hitting.202 with a.368 on-base percentage. He also sat in the 97th percentile of chase rate and the 86th percentile of whiff rate, but the defensive numbers were far less forgiving.
Colt Emerson Looming
Olney tied the possibility of more DH work to the next wave behind him. “I am sure, also because of JP's injury history, when Colt Emerson comes up, he's going to get some games at shortstop,” he said.
Emerson also plays shortstop and is closing in on a promotion, which makes the Mariners’ handling of Crawford more than a short-term lineup decision. Crawford is the Mariners’ longest-tenured player and carries a lot of weight in the clubhouse, but he is also a free agent at the end of the season.
Seattle’s Late-Season Choice
The friction point is on the field. Entering play on Friday, Crawford was the worst-rated shortstop in the sport in defensive runs saved, and he graded out poorly in range and arm strength, ranking in the sixth percentile and 17th percentile, respectively.
That leaves Seattle with a layered decision. Olney said late in the year the Mariners may simply play the nine guys they think give them the best chance to win, and he compared the situation to Derek Jeter’s late-career defensive usage and to Mookie Betts moving at shortstop last year. “look, we're going to try it at short, and it probably is not going to work out, and at some point, he's probably going to go back to the outfield,” Olney said. “And I think that's what's on the shoulders of JP this year.”
The Mariners were scheduled to be back in action on Saturday night at 6:40 p.m. PT, but the bigger roster question hangs beyond one game: how much shortstop, how much DH, and how much runway Crawford gets before Emerson pushes into the picture.
J.P. Crawford And Seattle
For Seattle, this is no longer just about one player’s line at the plate. It is about whether a veteran shortstop with a.202 average can keep enough everyday value to stay in the middle of the mix while a top prospect closes in and the final month starts to shape the roster.
