Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic indicated that the Seattle Mariners are shifting their focus from second base to third base. After unsuccessful stints by Adam Frazier, Kolten Wong, and Jorge Polanco, the team is opting for an in-house solution. Dylan Moore, who has played 166 of his 589 games for the Mariners at third base, is expected to take on the bulk of the work. Ryan Bliss, a promising prospect, will also contribute. In his 33-game debut in the majors, Bliss hit .222 with two home runs.
Additionally, there are rumors that Cole Young, the Mariners’ number two-ranked prospect, may see time in the Majors this year. The 21-year-old Young hit .271 with nine home runs in Double-A Arkansas last season.
Mariners Shift Their Focus to Corner Infielders
Aside from Dylan Moore at third base, the Mariners have only one locked-in starter: shortstop J.P. Crawford. The team also has utility players Leo Rivas and Austin Shenton to fill in as needed. The Mariners non-tendered Josh Rojas, their primary third baseman, in late November and declined Polanco’s option.
In the outfield, Luke Raley has experience playing first base, but recent reports indicate the Mariners are seeking a veteran presence to take on the role full-time. Justin Turner, who had a successful half-season with the club, could return. Alternatively, Carlos Santana, who has played for Seattle twice before, has also been mentioned as a possibility. If Turner re-signs, he would likely split time between first base and designated hitter. If Santana is re-signed, he would likely become the everyday first baseman.
The Mariners’ payroll remains a concern for general manager Jerry Dipoto. With a rumored budget of $16 million, the team is unlikely to pursue high-profile free agents like Alex Bregman or Willy Adames. However, Dipoto has a history of making unexpected trades. To free up additional funds, the Mariners could consider trading players with larger contracts, such as Mitch Haniger or Mitch Garver.
External Options
According to various reports, the Seattle Mariners rank 23rd in revenue-to-payroll ratio, generating $374 million in revenue while spending $163 million in 2024.
Dipoto and assistant general manager Justin Hollander have expressed reluctance to trade from their surplus of young, controllable starting pitchers. However, they may reconsider if certain opportunities arise. The Mariners are reportedly a finalist to sign Japanese pitching prospect Roki Sasaki. If successful, this could enable them to trade sixth starter Emerson Hancock or potentially even Luis Castillo, who has a $24 million contract.
Fortunately, the Mariners boast a top-10 outfield on paper, providing them with the flexibility to allocate a significant portion of their payroll to a corner infield spot. One option is Hyeseong Kim, who was posted by the KBO on Wednesday. Kim hit .326 with 11 home runs in 127 KBO games in 2024. Dipoto and Hollander prefer a contract in the range of three years, $24 million, which is where Kim’s projected deal is expected to land.
Main Photo: © Erik Williams-Imagn Images
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