The Mariners announced the add of infielder Donovan Solano on January 13. The veteran bat, who spent time with multiple teams over the last three seasons, comes over to Seattle after a career showing in the home run department. However, his versatility and hit tool are the two draws with the 37-year-old Solano.
A Look at Solano
The 2024 campaign was a surprisingly strong one for journeyman infielder Donovan Solano. Solano hit a career-high eight home runs over 96 games with the Padres, along with a .760 OPS.
Despite the showing of power, Solano isn’t a power hitter by any means. The veteran infielder has only 27 home runs between 2020-24, tied for 19th-fewest among hitters with 1,250+ PA in that span, alongside the recently-retired Kevin Kiermaier, Harold Ramirez, and Jacob Stallings.
For reference, the player with the fewest amount of home runs in that span were Nicky Lopez and Myles Straw (5).
And given the low 3.7% Barrel% last season, Solano may regress back to career norms in 2025.
That doesn’t mean Solano doesn’t have value. The 37-year-old has posted OPS figures of .720+ in each of the last five seasons. The new Mariner has a knack for getting on base, either by hitting his way on, or getting there via a walk of HBP.
Solano took on average at least four pitchers per PA in each of the last two seasons, and doesn’t sell for power. He has a simple approach, willing to take the ball where it’s hit without overswinging, along with a short swing (7.0”).
That approach allows him to do significant damage against fastballs, as he’s hit .300+ on the heat in three of the last four seasons.
Defensively, Solano has played at first, second, and third over the last two seasons but was strictly a corner infielder with San Diego. His arm strength rated poorly in the field, ranking in the bottom 20% in 2022-23.
The Mariners signed Donovan Solano to a one-year deal worth $3.5MM. Seattle DFA’d left-handed pitcher Austin Kitchen as a corresponding move.
Analysis
This signing likely won’t be what Mariners fans had in mind. Seattle’s offense does lack pop — at least on paper; the M’s had only three players — Cal Raleigh, Luke Raley, and Julio Rodriguez — with 20+ home runs last season, which isn’t a terribly low number. However, the Mariners finished 21st in runs scored (672) last season and 27th in total bases (2,004).
The Astros and Rangers have strong offenses on paper. The Athletics have an emerging offense as well. And given those numbers above, one would like to think Seattle should try to fortify their lineup with a big bat or two, if possible. However, their struggles last season weren’t solely based on lack of power.
Seattle finished with the most amount of strikeouts in the league last season. And far too often, the Mariners appeared to have been playing the “home run or bust” game. Two of their marquee acquisitions from last winter, Jorge Polanco and Mitch Garver, were exhibits of that. Each of those two players had 29+ K% rates, below the league average.
Solano can at least be somewhat of a solution, as the 37-year-old has been known to hit his way on base, without the whiff troubles. He has a career .335 OBP and just two years ago, a .369 OBP with the Twins. That means something, especially if he slots in as a bottom-of-the-lineup bat who can set up for the top.
Still, Solano isn’t a run-of-the-mill, power-hitting corner infielder. Which, is an interesting headline as spring training approaches. As of now, the Mariners could run Solano at third, with rookie Tyler Locklear at first. Solano isn’t a great defender at third, while Locklear — a good hitter in the Minors — hit .156/.224/.311 in his debut run with the big club.