The 2001 Mariners led the major leagues in winning percentage all season long, easily winning the American League West division championship, breaking the 1998 Yankees American League single-season record of 114 wins, and matching the Major League Baseball record for single-season wins of 116 set by the Chicago Cubs in 1906. At the end of the season, Ichiro won the AL MVP, AL Rookie of the Year, and one of three outfield Gold Glove Awards, becoming the first player since the 1975Boston Red Sox's Fred Lynn to win all three in the same season.
On October 22, 2008 the Mariners announced the hiring of Jack Zduriencik, formerly scouting director of the Milwaukee Brewers, as their general manager. Weeks later, on November 18, the team named Oakland Athletics bench coach Don Wakamatsu as its new field manager. Wakamatsu and Zduriencik hired an entirely new coaching staff for 2009, which included former World Series MVP John Wetteland as bullpen coach. The off-season also saw a litany of roster moves, headlined by a 12-player, 3-team trade that included sending All-Star closer J.J. Putz to the New York Mets and brought 5 players—including prospect Mike Carp and outfielder Endy Chavez from New York and outfielder Franklin Gutierrez from the Cleveland Indians—to Seattle. Many of the moves, like the free agent signing of Mike Sweeney, were made in part with the hope of squelching the clubhouse infighting that plagued the Mariners in 2008. The 2009-10 offseason was highlighted by the trade for 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee from the Philadelphia Phillies, the signing of third baseman Chone Figgins and the contract extension of star pitcher Felix "The King" Hernandez.
With veteran Ken Griffey nearing the end of a hall of fame career the M's window of opportunity to get him a ring is closing.
Season records
- Highest Batting Average: .372, Ichiro Suzuki (2004)
- Most Runs: 141, Alex Rodriguez (1996)
- Most Hits: 262, Ichiro Suzuki (2004)
- Highest Slugging %: .674, Ken Griffey Jr. (1994)
- Most Doubles: 54, Alex Rodriguez (1996)
- Most Triples: 12, Ichiro Suzuki (2005)
- Most Home Runs: 56, Ken Griffey Jr. (1997,98)
- Most Grand Slams: 4, Edgar Martínez (2000)
- Most RBIs: 147, Ken Griffey Jr. (1997,98)
- Most Stolen Bases: 60, Harold Reynolds (1987)
- Most Wins: 21, Jamie Moyer (2003)
- Lowest ERA: 2.28, Randy Johnson (1997)
- Strikeouts: 308, Randy Johnson (1993)
- Complete Games: 14, Mike Moore (1985) and Mark Langston (1987)
- Saves: 45, Kazuhiro Sasaki (2001)
1.Ichiro RF
2.Figgins 3B
3.Griffey DH
4.Galarce C
5.Bradley LF
6.Gutierrez CF
7.Garko 1B
8.Lopez 2B
9.Wilson SS
Pitching Rotation
1.Hernandez (R)
2.Lee (L)
3.Snell (R)
4.Rowland-Smith (L)
5.Vargas (L)
Closing Pitcher
1.David Aardsma
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