The Mariners have a lot of money invested in 34-year old switch-hitting 3B Chone Figgins, so they need him to rebound in 2012. Figgins played in 81 games for the Mariners last year and he was 54 of 288 (.188 avg, .484 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 1 homer, 15 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Figgins has now played in 242 games in his first two years with the Mariners and he is 210 of 890 (.236 avg, .595 OPS) with 86 runs scored, 2 homers, 50 RBIs and 53 stolen bases. Figgins has now played in 1,178 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 1,255 of 4,475 (.280 avg, .720 OPS) with 682 runs scored, 33 homers, 391 RBIs and 333 stolen bases. Figgins made 11 errors in 80 games at 3B last year for the Mariners while showing off pretty awful range. The Mariners won’t hesitate to bench Figgins if he gets off to a slow start in 2012.

24-year old lefty swinging Kyle Seager played in 53 games for the Mariners last year and he was 47 of 182 (.258 avg, .691 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 3 homers, 13 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He also played in 90 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 124 of 372 (.333 avg, .894 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 7 homers, 54 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Seager only had 4 errors in 42 games at 3B for the Mariners last year while showing out of this world range. He might get the first shot at 3B if Figgins fails again in 2012.

23-year old righty swinging Alex Liddi comes into this season as the Mariners’ #14 prospect according to Baseball America. Liddi played in 15 games for the Mariners last year and he was 9 for 40 (.225 avg, .820 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 3 homers, 6 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He also played in 138 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 145 of 559 (.259 avg, .821 OPS) with 121 runs scored, 30 homers, 104 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Liddi whiffed a stunning 170 times last year as he does have some holes in his swing, but it comes with big time power. Liddi played in 14 games at 3B for the Mariners last year and he had 1 error there while showing out of this world range. Liddi has a big time upside.

21-year old righty swinging Francisco Martinez comes into this season as the Mariners’ #6 prospect according to Baseball America. Martinez played in 124 games in AA-ball for the Tigers & Mariners last year and he was 138 of 477 (.289 avg, .746 OPS) with 83 runs scored, 10 homers, 69 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He has now played in 330 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 347 of 1,237 (.281 avg, .702 OPS) with 184 runs scored, 16 homers, 146 RBIs and 54 stolen bases. He, like Liddi, has a really nice upside.

PROJECTED GRADE AT 3B IN 2012: C-

The Mariners are likely to get great defense and not much hitting from their SS in 2012 and that’s fine with them. 29-year old Brendan Ryan will be the starting SS for the Mariners once again in 2012. Ryan played in 123 games for the Mariners last year and he was 108 of 436 (.248 avg, .639 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 3 homers, 39 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. He has now played in 538 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 420 for 1,642 (.256 avg, .653 OPS) with 216 runs scored, 12 homers, 134 RBIs and 52 stolen bases. Ryan only had 15 errors in 123 games at SS for the Mariners while showing outstanding range. The Mariners pay Ryan for his glove, not is bat.

31-year old switch-hitting Luis Rodriguez will try to win the backup SS job this spring. He played in 44 games for the Mariners last year and he was 23 for 117 (.197 avg, .633 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 2 homers, 14 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Rodriguez has now played in 407 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 231 of 972 (.238 avg, .638 OPS) with 100 runs scored, 10 homers, 80 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Rodriguez played in 23 games at SS for the Mariners last year and he had 3 errors while showing good range.

30-year old lefty swinging Munenori Kawasaki is also in camp trying to win a utility infielder job. He played in 144 games in Japan last year and he was 161 of 603 (.267 avg, .636 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 1 homer, 37 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. Kawasaki has played in 625 games in his first five years in Japan and he is 753 of 2,552 (.295 avg, .721 OPS) with 330 runs scored, 14 homers, 201 RBIs and 147 stolen bases. He might have a good chance to make the team this spring as Japan has been very good to the Mariners over the years.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012: C-

24-year old lefty swinging Dustin Ackley is getting his first chance as a full-time starter for the Mariners in 2012. He played in 90 games for the Mariners last year and he was 91 of 333 (.273 avg, .766 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 6 homers, 36 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. The Mariners are expecting Ackley to hit .280-.300 with 15-20 homers and 70-80 RBIs in 2012 and he has the potential to put up those kind of numbers. Will he? Only time will tell. He had 6 errors in 86 games at 2B for the Mariners last year but he showed pretty poor range. The Mariners hope that Dustin Ackley is the next star to come up through their minor league system.

36-year old switch-hitting Carlos Guillen is trying to make the Mariners’ bench this spring. He played in only 28 games for the Tigers last year as his knee was barking. He was 22 of 95 (.232 avg, .633 OPS) for the Tigers last year with 8 runs scored, 3 homers, 13 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has played in 488 games in his first six years for the Mariners and he is 439 for 1,665 (.264 avg, .718 OPS) with 264 runs scored, 29 homers, 211 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. He has played in 1,305 games in his first 14 years in the majors and he is 1,331 of 4,673 (.285 avg, .798 OPS) with 733 runs scored, 124 homers, 660 RBIs and 74 stolen bases. Guillen had 2 errors in 25 games at 2B last year for the Tigers and he showed pretty good range. The Mariners are an offensively challenged team, so I see Guillen making the team if he can stay healthy this spring.

31-year old switch-hitting Luis Rodriguez is back for the Mariners this spring. He played in 7 games at 2B last year and he had 1 error while showing out of this world range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012: B

UPDATE: (3/6/2012) - Carlos Guillen has decided to retire.

The Mariners need 25-year old switch-hitting 1B Justin Smoak to step up or step aside in 2012. Smoak played in 123 games for the Mariners last year and he was 100 for 427 (.234 avg, .719 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 15 homers and 55 RBIs. He has now played in 153 games in his first two years with the Mariners and he is 127 for 540 (.235 avg, .714 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 20 homers and 69 RBIs. Smoak has now played in 223 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 176 for 775 (.227 avg, .701 OPS) with 78 runs scored, 28 homers, 103 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Smoak made 7 errors in 108 games at 1B, but he is solid defensive 1B.

If Justin Smoak gets off to another really slow start, he could be replaced at 1B by Mike Carp. Carp played in 34 games at 1B for the Mariners last year and he had 2 errors. Carp will likely be the Mariners’ starting LF when the 2012 season begins.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: C-

33-year old righty swinging Miguel Olivo will likely be the starting catcher once again in 2012 for the Mariners. He played in 130 games last year for the Mariners and he was 107 of 477 (.224 avg, .641 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 19 homers, 62 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Olivo has now played in 234 games in his first three years for the Mariners and he is 162 of 789 (.205 avg, .606 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 30 homers, 94 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. He has now played in 996 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 815 for 3,353 (.243 avg, .700 OPS) with 399 runs scored, 129 homers, 450 RBIs and 50 stolen bases. Olivo played in 127 games behind the plate for the Mariners last year and he had 11 errors and 11 passed balls. He threw out 25 of 110 (22.7%) base stealers and Mariners’ pitchers had a 3.77 ERA with him behind the plate, so pitchers liked throwing to him. Olivo has been an all or nothing hitter lately, but the Mariners are hoping that he can approach hitting around .250 in 2012.

28-year old lefty John Jaso will backup Olivo in 2012. Jaso played in 89 games for the Tampa Bay Rays last year and he was 55 for 246 (.224 avg, .651 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 5 homers, 27 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 203 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 146 of 595 (.245 avg, .705 OPS) with 85 runs scored, 10 homers, 71 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Jaso played in 82 games behind the plate for the Rays last year and he had 4 errors and 4 passed balls. He only threw out 8 of 60 (13.3%) base stealers but Rays’ pitchers had a 3.37 ERA with him behind the plate. The Mariners hope that Jaso hits for a decent average while splitting time with Olivo in 2012.

27-year old righty swinging Adam Moore is likely going to start the 2012 season in AAA-ball for the Mariners. He played in 6 games for the Mariners last year and he was 1 for 6 (.167 avg, .500 OPS). Moore has now played in 68 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 46 for 234 (.197 avg, .526 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 5 homers, 17 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Moore played in 2 games behind the plate for the Mariners last year and he didn’t have any errors or passed balls. He was 0 for 2 throwing out base stealers but Mariners’ pitchers had a 3.45 ERA with him behind the dish. Moore used to be a top prospect but knee injuries have sapped him of a lot of his strengths as a ballplayer. He still has some time to turn things around for the better.

30-year old righty swinging Guillermo Quiroz will likely be in AAA-ball when the 2012 season begins. Quiroz played in 2 games for the Mariners last year and he was 2 for 7 (.286 avg, .714 OPS) with 1 run scored. He has now played in 7 games in his first 3 years with the Mariners and he is 6 for 23 (.261 avg, .565 OPS) with 1 run scored and 2 RBIs. Quiroz has now played in 101 games in his first seven years in the majors and he is 53 for 255 (.208 avg, .542 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 2 homers, 28 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

22-year old righty swinging Jesus Montero came over to the Mariners in a big deal with the Yankees over the winter. He played in 3 games behind the plate for the Yankees last year and he didn’t make any errors or have any passed balls. Montero nailed 1 of 5 (20%) base stealers last year but Yankees’ pitchers had a 7.77 ERA with him behind the dish. The Mariners want to use him pretty much full time at DH in 2012.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: C-