SAN ANTONIO — Outfielder Mitch Haniger has decided not to opt out of his contract with the Seattle Mariners, ensuring his place on the team for the upcoming season, which includes a salary of $15.5 million.

Haniger originally signed a three-year contract worth $43.5 million prior to the 2023 season. While he had a standout year in 2018 as an All-Star, he achieved remarkable numbers in 2021 with 39 home runs and 100 RBIs, but has struggled to replicate that level of play since then.

In the 2023 season, Haniger’s performance was hindered by a series of injuries, including a left oblique strain, a fractured right forearm, and a strained lower back, limiting him to just 61 games. His overall statistics for the year reflected a downturn, finishing with a batting average of .209, 6 home runs, and 28 RBIs.

Throughout the year, he appeared in 121 games, but managed to post a career-low batting average of .208, along with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs.

At 33 years old, Haniger made his Major League Baseball debut in 2016 with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being traded to Seattle at the end of that season. Over the course of his eight-year career in the majors, he has accumulated a .250 batting average, 130 home runs, and 395 RBIs.

This decision to stay with the Mariners highlights Haniger’s commitment to the team, as he navigates through the challenges of his recent seasons.