Former MLB GM Close to Waving White Flag on Mariners Star Julio Rodríguez
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By his own admission, former MLB general manager Steve Phillips isn’t ready to give up on Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodríguez.
That doesn’t mean Phillips’ patience will last forever, though.
Speaking on the “Mitch Unfiltered” podcast this week, Phillips declared that he’s “disappointed” in Rodríguez. The 2022 AL Rookie of the Year entered May hitting only .207 with four home runs, 14 RBI, and a .681 OPS over 139 plate appearances.
“I still like him as a player,” Phillips said. “[There’s] still a spot for him, but I don’t think he’s the aircraft carrier that you’re going to need in the middle of the lineup.”
Phillips said he expected Rodríguez to become a “mega-offensive star” after a sensational first season. Rodríguez posted 6.2 bWAR and a .853 OPS for the 2022 Mariners, leading them to their first playoff berth since 2001.
“We think about people the way they teach us to think about them,” Phillips explained, “and he taught me that he had the personality, he had the charisma, he had the bat, he had the big at-bats, he had the big moments.
“He was that guy that was going to be everything,” the former New York Mets GM continued.
Some Mariners fans may argue Phillips is being overly harsh, and they wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. Rodríguez hit .273 with 20 home runs, 68 RBI, a .734 OPS, and 4.3 bWAR last year, playing the entire campaign at 23 years old.
Only 27 players had a higher bWAR, and his .734 OPS was still well above the .711 league average. Rodríguez is also only two seasons removed from joining the 30-30 club at 22 years old.
Julio Rodríguez BLASTED this ball - the third-hardest hit home run of his career 💥
(MLB x @googlecloud) pic.twitter.com/n1rh2CklKc— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) March 31, 2025
However, Phillips said he’s been underwhelmed, in large part because Rodríguez is a streaky player. Rodríguez is on pace to hit 22 home runs with 76 RBI, 22 doubles, and a 4.3 bWAR.
Most teams would absolutely take production like that from any player, let alone a 24-year-old All-Star. Clearly, though, that’s not good enough for Phillips.
“I’m not going to give up hope yet, but it’s dwindling for me a little bit,” Phillips admitted.
Related: Former Yankees All-Star Turning Heads After New Contract
