5 Seattle Mariners Who Need a Big Year in 2012

The Seattle Mariners aren't expected to contend in 2012 after finishing last in the AL West in 2011 with 67 wins.

In order to have a chance to shock the baseball world, the rebuilding Mariners have several players who will need to step their game up this season, whether they be veterans or newcomers.

Here are five Mariners who need big seasons in 2012.

Ichiro

2011: .272, 5 HR, 47 RBI

Ichiro tallied career lows in batting average and hits last season, the only time he failed to hit at least .300 with 200 hits.

He didn't have a bad season by any means, racking up 184 hits and stealing 40 bases, but his hit totals and batting average were shockingly low by Ichiro's standards.

Eric Wedge has him hitting third in the line-up right now, and after one game it's paying dividends, as Ichiro went 4 for 5 with an RBI in Seattle's opener in Japan.

Maybe the move out of the leadoff spot will be beneficial to the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer. As long as Chone Figgins and Dustin Ackley get on base, Ichiro should be able to rack up a ton of RBI.

Jason Vargas

2011: 10-13, 4.25 ERA, 131 K

With former No. 2 starter Michael Pineda in New York, lefty Jason Vargas needs to immensely step up in 2012 and help solidify the rotation behind Félix Hernández.

Hector Noesi and Blake Beavan are glaring question marks, and while Kevin Millwood is a proven starter in the league with a good track record, he's 37 years old and lost 16 games in his last full season (2010).

The rotation as a whole needs to have a huge year, but a lot of pressure falls on Vargas as the No. 2 guy.

Chone Figgins

2011: .188, 1 HR, 15 RBI (81 games)

What happened to the Chone Figgins who hit .330? or even the Figgins who hit .298? Since coming to Seattle, Figgins' numbers have taken monumental dives into uncharted territory.

Eric Wedge has him back in the leadoff spot to start out the season, and hopefully that will boost his confidence and let him get back to getting on base, stealing bags and scoring runs.

If Figgins can be that guy, Dustin Ackley and Ichiro right behind him in the order can produce runs and have a top three with crazy speed and run producing ability.

If not, two up-and-coming third basemen in Kyle Seager and Alex Liddi are anxiously awaiting his downfall.

Justin Smoak

2011: .234, 15 HR, 55 RBI

The Mariners don't have anyone who will hit 30 home runs, but Smoak has the power to hit 25 as long as he can stay healthy and at least make contact (105 strikeouts vs 100 hits in '11).

He's slotted in the powerful No. 4 spot in the order which will give him many an opportunity to drive in runs and take loads of pressure off the bottom of the order.

Seattle gave up Cliff Lee to get the young power hitter, and expectations are high for this season.

Franklin Gutierrez

2011: .224, 1 HR, 19 RBI (92 games)

The biggest cause for concern heading into 2012 is the health of center fielder Franklin Gutiérrez. he missed large chunks of time in 2011 and has already torn a pectoral muscle and will miss at least the first month of the 2012 season.

When healthy, Gutiérrez is a defensive stud. He won a Gold Glove in 2010, and at the very least he can contribute defensively.

He's a .256 career hitter, but if "Guti" can put up numbers close to those from 2009—his first year in Seattle—of .283, 18 HR and 70 RBI, the Mariners will have a scary team.

Much of Seattle's success in 2012 will be determined by the health of their starting center fielder.