Seattle Mariners: 2023 free agents – Best of the Rest
Jurickson Profar – LF/2B/SS – 30 – S
2022 San Diego: 152 games, 244/.331/722, 82 runs scored.
Pros
- Jurikson Profar can play any position on the field.
- Switch hitter.
- Decent speed on the bases.
Cons
- Doesn’t hit much, with a .234 career batting average (.198 at Safeco) and .264 batting average on balls in play.
- Versatile defender but not particularly good at an any position.
- The Seattle Mariners already have Dylan Moore and Sam Haggerty. Jurickson Profar would be redundant
The Seattle Mariners already have Dylan Moore and Sam Haggerty; Profar would be redundant.
Brandon Drury – 3B/2B/1B/OF – 30 – R
2022 Cincinnati and San Diego: 131 games, .263/.320/.492/.813, 28 HR, 83 RBI.
Pros
- Another utility knife player but specializes in Seattle Mariners positions of need.
- Good 2-out hitter, career .489 slugging and .808 OPS with two down
- Another Pacific Northwest native (Grants Pass, Oregon).
Cons
- 2022 was a career year for Brandon Drury, and he faded after the trade to San Diego on August 2.
- Played for 6 teams in 8 seasons.
- Aside from last year, he hasn’t shown much pop.
- Only a .298 career OBP vs. lefties.
Brad Hand – RP – 33 – L
2022 Philadelphia: 55 games, 45.0 innings pitched, 2.80 ERA, 38 strikeouts, 2 home runs allowed.
Pros
- Best available lefty reliever.
- Hand would be a great mentor to Seattle Mariners young relievers Andres Munoz and Matt Brash.
- Only 1 negative WAR season since 2016.
Cons
- WHIP is on the rise, 1.27 in 2021 and 1.33 in 2022, was 1.06 from 2016-2020.
- Strikeouts are on the decline, 8.5 K/9 in 2021 and 7.5 in 2022, was 12.2 from 2016-2020.
Yuli Gurriel – 1B/DH – 38 – R
2022 Houston: 146 games, .242/.288/.360/.648, 40 doubles.
Pros
- Former Gold Glove winner.
- Great doubles hitter.
- Produces almost equally against left and right-handed pitching.
- A Seattle Mariners killer, he can’t beat the M’s if he’s on the team.
Cons
- Yuli Gurriel is 38; how much time does he have left?
- Big drop off in 2022 from career norms.
- Unless there is an injury, Guriel is limited to first base, and the Mariners already have Ty France. So it would be mostly DH duty for him.
- Lack of power.
Among the remaining free agents, who, if anyone, do you think the Seattle Mariners should sign?
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