When the Mariners traded for Jean Segura in late November, many overlooked the addition of Mitch Haniger and rightfully so. Segura was the darling of the league last season and poses a potential threat at the plate close to the Houston Astros’, Jose Altuve.
But the Mariners knew they had received someone very gifted in Mitch Haniger, they just wanted to show off the sleeper pick up down the line, once they had a proper place to put him.
At the time of his trade, Haniger was slated as a backup in a fight for time in right with Nelson Cruz, Ben Gamel, and Guillermo Heredia.