Mariners, Jesse Winker avoid arbitration with two-year deal

Seattle Mariners outfielder Jesse Winker signed a two-year deal to avoid arbitration. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Mariners, All-Star OF Jesse Winker avoid arbitration with two-year, $14.5M deal

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 6/16/22

The Seattle Mariners acquired both slugging outfielder Jesse Winker and power-hitting infielder Eugenio Suarez in a six-player trade with the Cincinnati Reds in March. Seattle announced on Thursday that the team had agreed with one of the All-Stars on a short-term contract extension to avoid arbitration.

We’ve agreed to terms through the 2023 season with outfielder Jesse Winker.

https://t.co/3GJLqLop8c pic.twitter.com/hufaJT4mFQ
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 16, 2022

Jesse Winker's 2-yr deal, $14.5M deal with the Mariners breakdown: $6.25M this year, $8.25M next year and a chance to earn an additional $400G in bonuses in 2023.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 16, 2022

According to the Mariners public relations department, all 40 players on Seattle's MLB 40-man roster have now been signed through 2022.

While Winker is coming off arguably his best big-league campaign in 2021, the start to his Mariners career has been slow from an offensive perspective. The 28-year-old lefty enters Friday with a career-low slash line of .214/.326/.308, though he currently leads the American League in walks with 38.

Last year, Winker made his first All-Star team and finished the season with career highs across the board in home runs (24), RBIs (71), runs scored (77), hits (129) and doubles (32), while slashing a career-best .305/.394/.556.

More must-reads: