After starting the 2009 season on a tear before dwindling toward the end of the season, the Seattle Mariners made major moves in hopes of building on the success of last season. Jack Zduriencik, who is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the keenest GMs in baseball after the moves he has made in the past two seasons, is looking to put together a contender that can rival the Angels in the AL West.

Offense

The major pick up for the Mariners this offseason was the signing of Chone Figgins from their rivals from Southern California, the Angels. While the Mariners did have to pay a hefty price for the third baseman, his defensive ability, speed, and knack for getting on base is the perfect compliment to Ichiro at the top of the order.

While Figgins is most certainly not known for his power (5 homeruns and 54 RBIs a year ago), his .300 average and 42 steals last year will make the front of the Mariners’ lineup one not to be messed with.

Leading off for the Mariners, as usual, will be Ichiro Suzuki, who has put up extraordinary numbers since he first broke onto the scene in 2001. He has never not hit .300 or better (last year he hit a blistering .352), and has 200 hits in every season that he has been in the majors. His stolen base total dipped considerably last year from the year before (43 to 26), but having Figgins in the lineup should help as Ichiro begins to realize that he is 36 years old.

Seattle has the potential to have a powerful lineup if a couple of guys can find their stride this season. If Milton Bradley, the problem-child outfielder acquired from the Cubs for Carlos Silva, can put his problems aside and get back to what he was doing in Texas two season ago (.321 average with 22 homeruns and 77 RBIs), then he will provide the Mariners with a middle of the order bat that they desperately need.

Franklin Gutierrez (.283 plus 18 homeruns and 70 RBIs), traded to the Mariners in last season’s J.J. Putz swap, provides another strong, slugging bat in the middle of the Mariner’s order — not to mention his ability in centerfield.

But the most intriguing bat in the Mariner’s lineup belongs to Seattle’s favorite son, Ken Griffey Jr. He only hit 19 homeruns last year, but is healthy and very excited for this season. His locker room leadership is essential for a team looking to rise and whose other leader (Ichiro) is such a stoic figure.

Pitching

The top of the Seattle rotation is the throne of King Felix Hernandez. The 23-year-old is coming off the first stellar season of his career, when he was just beat out in the Cy Young race with a 19-win, 217-strikeout season and posted an unbelievable 2.49 ERA. Not only did King Felix save many fantasy teams least year, but he also let the league know that he is going to be force for years to come.

The offseason move that will make the most impact for the Mariners is the acquisition of Cliff Lee from the Phillies.

For the past two seasons, and especially in last year’s playoffs, Lee has established himself as an elite starter, pitching gem after gem as the Phillies tore through the National League. The combination of Hernandez and Lee could become the best 1-2 in the league, even arguably better than Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain in San Francisco.

Rounding out the rotation will be Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ian Snell, and Doug Fister. David Aardsma will continue as the club’s closer, trying to build upon the 38 saves he tallied last season.

Prediction

Seattle made major moves this winter in hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since its record-breaking 2001, when they broke the single season wins record. The Mariners have solid bats at the front of the lineup and have two pitchers who could easily win 40 games this year.

For the Mariners to take the AL West, though, another starter will have to step up and lighten the load on Hernandez and Lee.

Don Wakamatsu has the respect of his clubhouse and has the ability to lead his team to the playoffs. Unfortunately the Mariners will not be able to keep up with the Angels when push comes to shove, and beating the Red Sox in the wildcard race may be even harder than winning the division.

Whether they finish second or third in the West (the Rangers are looking to take the division as well), they will most certainly finish the season over .500 and make great strides this year.