2009 Seattle Mariners season
| 2009 Seattle Mariners | |
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| Major League affiliations | |
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| Other information | |
| Owner(s) | Nintendo of America (represented by Howard Lincoln) |
| General manager(s) | Jack Zduriencik |
| Manager(s) | Don Wakamatsu |
| Local television |
Fox Sports Northwest (Dave Niehaus, Dave Sims, Rick Rizzs, Mike Blowers) |
| Local radio |
Seattle Mariners Radio Network (English) (Dave Niehaus, Rick Rizzs) (Spanish) (Alex Rivera, Julio Cruz) |
| < Previous season Next season > | |
The 2009 Seattle Mariners season was the 33rd season in franchise history. They improved upon a disappointing 2008 season, where they finished last in the American League West with a 61–101 record. They finished 3rd in the AL West with an 85–77 record, a 24 win improvement. The 2009 Mariners became the 13th team in MLB history to have a winning record following a 100+ loss season. On September 13, 2009, Ichiro got his 200th hit of the season. In the process, he set a new MLB record by getting at least 200 hits for nine consecutive seasons. He would break Wee Willie Keeler's record of eight consecutive seasons.
Even before Opening Day, the season was marked with a flurry of change, most notably with the hiring of new general manager Jack Zduriencik, field manager Don Wakamatsu, and an entirely new major-league coaching staff. Unlike the previous season, which was approached with an expectation to contend for the AL West division title, the 2009 season has been approached with a rebuilding philosophy and a departure from the team-building strategies used in previous seasons. In January the Mariners unveiled their 2009 slogan, "A New Day, A New Way", to reflect their rebuilding philosophy.
In terms of players, this season was marked by the free agency departure of outfielder Raúl Ibáñez, who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, and the trade of closer J. J. Putz to the New York Mets. However, the offseason has been most notable for the acquisition of longtime Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr., nearly 10 years after trading him to the Cincinnati Reds. Other notable acquisitions have included outfielders Franklin Gutiérrez and Endy Chávez (both from the Putz trade), new closer David Aardsma (traded by Boston Red Sox) and long-time Kansas City Royals infielder Mike Sweeney (free agent).
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