Mariners hope moved-in fences could aid offense

• The fences are being moved in at Safeco Field for next season
• The Mariners have finished last in the AL in scoring in each of the last three seasons
• Safeco Field will remain a pitcher-friendly park

The fences are being moved in at Safeco Field for next season. From a practical standpoint, it should aid the Seattle Mariners offense, which could use the help.

The Mariners have finished last in the American League in scoring in each of the last three seasons. They cracked 600 runs for the first time in three years in 2012, but their total of 619 was 48 fewer than that any other team in the AL.

While Safeco Field will remain a pitcher-friendly park, Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik says the shortening of the field will give his hitters as much of a mental boost as a physical one.

"The marine air is very cool in the spring, and sometimes it's that way into June, and the ball just does not carry well because of it," Zduriencik says. "Guys will hit the ball well in Arizona and come out of spring training feeling really good. Then they come home and the ball doesn't carry, and I think that affects them. When you hit a ball pretty good and it gets run down in front of the warning track, it can be discouraging.

"I realize the park is going to play smaller for both teams. We're going to hit more home runs, and we're going to give up more home runs. From a mental standpoint, though, I think we're going to benefit from it."

Fences from the left-field line to right-center field will be moved in up to 17 feet closer next season. To further help the offense, the Mariners have pursued a number of big-name free agent outfielders, including Josh Hamilton, Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher.

Hamilton agreed to terms with the rival Los Angeles Angels last week. Free agent catcher-first baseman Mike Napoli was intrigued enough to visit Seattle. However, he signed with the Boston Red Sox for three years and $39 million.

Zduriencik says he is finding free agent hitters are more open-minded about the Mariners because of the changes being made at Safeco Field.

"It's come up in more than one conversation with agents," Zduriencik says. "It has gotten people's attention. Before, some agents would be hesitant to even talk to us about their free agents because of the park."

One free agent who signed with the Mariners was outfielder Jason Bay, who hit a combined .234 with 26 home runs in three miserable seasons with the New York Mets after signing a four-year, $66 million contract as a free agent. (The sides agreed to terminate the contract a year early.)

Bay lives in the Seattle area, and the Mariners are hoping a homecoming can get Bay back on track. He dealt with a concussion and other injury issues and played in 288 games with the Mets. But he batted .280 with 184homers in 919 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Red Sox before signing with the Mets.

Under the old dimensions, two young Mariners hitters took steps forward last season. Third baseman Kyle Seager hit 20 home runs, and center fielder Michael Saunders had 19 homers and 21 stolen bases.

However, other key youngsters such as designated hitter Jesus Montero, first baseman Justin Smoak and second baseman Dustin Ackley struggled. The three are being counted on to get better as the Mariners look to improve their record for a third consecutive season after going from 61 wins in 2010 to 67 wins in 2011 to 75 wins in 2012.

The Mariners think if they can score a decent amount of runs that they could be dangerous because of their pitching. Their solid starting rotation features ace Felix Hernandez, and closer Tom Wilhelmsen heads a deep bullpen. Seattle finished fourth in the AL in ERA (3.76) in 2012.

Manager Eric Wedge is buoyed by the fact that the Mariners went 33-32 after trading franchise icon Ichiro Suzuki to the New York Yankees on July 23.

That record came during a season in which the Mariners used 13 rookies and 19 players with less than one full season of major league service time.

"We're a year further along, and that's only going to help," Wedge says. "It was the first full year in the big leagues for guys like Jesus Montero and Dustin Ackley. They're going to get better, and I think the new dimensions are going to help them, too."

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Where the Mariners stand at each position

Catcher

The Mariners are looking for a No. 1 catcher as the defense of John Jaso and Miguel Montero is lacking. Jaso is a good backup, though, and hit .276 with 10 home runs in 108 games last season. Whomever starts in 2013 could be keeping the seat warm for prospect Mike Zunino to take over in 2014. Zunino was the Mariners' first-round draft pick in 2012 from the University of Florida.

First base

Justin Smoak was the centerpiece of the package of players the Mariners received from the Texas Rangers in the 2010 Cliff Lee trade. But Smoak has hit .219 with 39 home runs in 1,146 plate appearances with Seattle. Mike Carp has pop but had a .213 batting average and five homers in 59 games last season while he was hampered by a shoulder injury.

Second base

Dustin Ackley had a disappointing first full season in the major leagues in 2012 as he hit .226 with 12 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 153 games. But he does have the pedigree of being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 draft and batted .273 in 90 games as a rookie. The Mariners acquired Robert Andino from the Baltimore Orioles in an offseason trade, and he will give them solid defense at both middle-infield spots, though he hit .211 in 127 games for the Orioles last season.

Third base

Kyle Seager, who was Ackley's lesser-publicized college teammate at North Carolina, hit .259 with 20 homers and 13 steals in 155 games in 2012, also his first full season in the big leagues. He provided thump to a lineup sorely in need of power. Alex Liddi struggled as a rookie last season, hitting .224 with three homers in 38 games, but is well-regarded. The Mariners are well stocked at the hot corner as prospect Vinnie Catricala will repeat the Class AAA level because he has nowhere to go on the depth chart.

Shortstop

The advanced defensive metrics indicate Brendan Ryan is the best defensive shortstop in baseball, but he doesn't have a Gold Glove to show for it. He likely won't win a Silver Slugger anytime soon after hitting .194 in 141 games last season. If the Mariners decide they need more offense, they have Nick Franklin waiting in Class AAA.

Left field

The Mariners hope a change of scenery revives Jason Bay's career as they bring him to his adopted hometown of Seattle after signing him to a one-year, $1 million contract. Bay, 34, will have to fend off spring training challenges from Casper Wells and Eric Thames. Wells hit .228 with 10 homers in 93 games last season; Thames batted .220 with six homers in 40 games.

Center field

Franklin Gutierrez is one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, but his problem has been staying on the field. Gutierrez was limited to 40 games last season because of a torn chest muscle, then a concussion suffered when he was hit by an errant pickoff throw. He played in 92 games in 2011.

Right field

The Mariners are hoping Michael Saunders can build on a 2012 in which he hit .247 in 139 games but had 19 homers and 21 steals. At 26, he could be ready to emerge as a star if he can cut down on strikeouts.

Designated hitter

Jesus Montero, 23, failed to live up to the hype after being acquired from the New York Yankees for pitcher Michael Pineda in a swap of highly regarded young players. Montero hit .260 with 15 homers in 135 games.

Starters

Felix Hernandez remains the unquestioned ace of the staff and is coming off a season in which he threw the first perfect game in franchise history while going 13-9 with a 3.06 ERA and an American League-high five complete games. Left-hander Jason Vargas has emerged as a solid No. 2 and led the team in wins last season while going 14-11 with a 3.85 ERA. The Mariners were quick to re-sign Hisashi Iwakuma to a two-year, $14 million contract as a free agent after the veteran Japanese pitcher went 9-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 30 games, including 16 starts, in his first major league season. Blake Beavan was 11-11 last season at the back end of the rotation. Class AAA Tacoma (Wash.) will have one of the minor leagues' most prospect-laden rotations with left-handers Danny Hultzen and James Paxton and right-handers Taijuan Walker and Brandon Maurer.

Bullpen

The Mariners have two intriguing young right-handers in Carter Capps and Stephen Pryor. Both throw 100 mph and have the potential to be top-flight closers. The Mariners also possess three tough lefties in Charlie Furbush, resurgent Oliver Perez and Lucas Luetge.

Closer

Tom Wilhelmsen had 24 saves last season after taking over the closer duties from Brandon League in June. His curveball was unhittable.

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Prospects to watch

RHP Taijuan Walker: The Mariners aggressively moved Walker, 19, to Class AA last season. While the numbers weren't impressive (7-10, 4.69 ERA in 25 starts), Walker showed the stuff of a future ace with a fastball that reached the upper 90s, an excellent curveball and an improving changeup. Walker will begin 2013 at Class AAA.

LHP Danny Hultzen: The second overall pick in the 2011 draft doesn't have Walker's raw stuff but has more polish. Hultzen, 23, starred at the University of Virginia and reached Class AAA in 2012 in his first full professional season after beginning the year at Class AA. He went a combined 9-7 with a 3.05 ERA in 25 starts while showing an above-average fastball and changeup with a serviceable curveball.

SS-2B Nick Franklin: Franklin, 21, shined in the Arizona Fall League for a second consecutive year, hitting .338 with 13 runs and 22 RBI in 20 games. He has good pop for a middle infielder and hit a combined .278 with 11 homers in 121 games at Class AA and AAA in 2012. The big question surrounding Franklin is his glove.

C Mike Zunino: The Mariners' first-round draft pick last year and the third overall selection, Zunino, 21, has the tools to become an All-Star. He has the ability to hit for power and average and is considered above average defensively. He dominated in his professional debut, hitting a combined .360 with 13 home runs in 44 games between short-season and Class AA.