The Seattle Mariners have a good young team but are still a few pieces shy of reaching their potential. Here are five realistic players the M’s can trade for to get them to the next level.
Baseball fans have few logs to throw on the hot stove this offseason due to the lockout. After a while, the “what ifs” start to get stale, and the embers fade. This should be a time of anticipation for Seattle Mariners Nation. With an exciting young core of players, more hot prospects coming, and the defending American League Cy Young winner, Robbie Ray, signed as a free agent, there is plenty to look forward to.
The M’s are a legitimate playoff contender. But it’s hard to say this team is complete. Seattle is one or two pieces shy of turning the A.L. West on its head.
Keeping it Real
Before we start, there is no doubt, Seattle would love to trade for Brandon Lowe, Matt Olson, or Yoan Moncada. All three would look great in a Mariners uniform and produce at a high level. However, in terms of assets the M’s would have to send back, they are all way too expensive.
In Olson’s case, Oakland doesn’t want him banging them around for the next two seasons. Conversely, the M’s don’t want to spend the six following years watching Noelvi Marte or Julio Rodriguez destroying the league in another team’s colors.
Only pay for what you need
Then there are players on the trade block; the M’s could go after, but if they don’t help them, why bother? For example, as great as it would be to get Bryan Reynolds from Pittsburgh, he isn’t necessary. Seattle already has Jarred Kelenic, Kyle Lewis, Mitch Haniger, and Jake Fraley (as a fourth outfielder) on the roster. Not to mention the highly touted Julio Rodriguez, who is MLB Pipeline’s number two prospect in baseball, not far from joining them.
Every team needs starting pitching, even the Seattle Mariners. Again there is plenty of talent on the near horizon coming from the minors. In two years, Emerson Hancock, George Kirby, and one of several highly rated prospects will join Logan Gilbert to form a strong young core of starters.
The Mariners need someone who bats left-handed bat, preferably with some pop, who can also get on base. Ideally, this player is a third baseman to replace Kyle Seager, but not a deal-breaker if he isn’t.
Next: Page 2 – Rocky Mountain Highlight
The candidates are listed in no particular order with their respective pros and cons.
Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
2021 – Slash line .254/.331/.449 with 23 home runs, 86 RBI, and 32 doubles in 528 at-bats.
Contract Status
Ryan McMahon is just entering his prime at 27-years-old. This season he makes $5M and is arbitration-eligible for 2023. After that, he’s a free agent.
Pros
- McMahon is an excellent fielder who seems to be improving the more he plays in the Majors. Last season his dWar climbed to a career-high 2.6
- He is a left-handed batter, but his splits are close enough to even, so Mariners manager Scott Servais won’t have to pinch-hit for him if the other team brings in a lefty reliever.
- Under team control for two more years, McMahon has a manageable contract.
- He showed a good ability at the plate to hit to the opposite field.
- Not expensive to gein in a trade. The Rockies need pitchers, and Seattle has some to spare. They likely don’t have to give up one of their top three pitching prospects to get a deal done.
Cons
- Like many past and present Rockies’ players, McMahon’s stats heavily favor Coors Field. He slashed just .227/.317/.406 away from the hitter’s paradise.
- McMahon is very streaky at the plate, which means he can’t always be counted on.
- Ideally, the Mariners would want someone with a higher on-base percentage than his career .323 (.300 away from Coors).
A final thought on Ryan McMahon
McMahon is streaky at the plate, but our Andrew Elerbaum says, when he’s on, he’s crazy good.
Next: Page 3 – Squirrell
Jeff McNeil, New York Mets
2021 – Slash line .251/.319/.360 with 7 home runs, and 48 runs scored in 348 at-bats
Contract Status
A late bloomer, Jeff McNeil, made it to the Majors in 2018 at age 26. He’ll make $2.5M in 2022. From there, McNeil is arbitration-eligible and under team control for the next two seasons.
Pros
- McNeil is a left-handed Ty France at the plate. He has a career slash line of .299/.364/.459.
- An ideal table-setter, he averages just over a half a run scored per game.
- The Seattle Mariners like to move players around like chess pawns. McNeil fits in well; he can play second, third, and the corner outfield spots.
- Jeff McNeil would be a welcome addition for a team that strikes out as much as Seattle does. He has a career 12.5 percent strikeout average, with a high of 13.6 percent in any season.
- Who doesn’t want a guy nicknamed “The Flying Squirrel” on their team?
Cons
- Third base isn’t McNeil’s best position, but he is steady at second; Abraham Toro might have to move.
- As shown by his career and 2021 slash lines, McNeil is coming off his worst MLB season. He was plagued by injuries last season. Is he over them?
- McNeil has decent power, but not the kind that draws much attention. He’s mainly a singles and doubles-type hitter.
- Believe it or not, he’s never played against an American League West team.
A final thought on Jeff McNeil
Under new owner Steve Cohen, the New York Mets have aggressively acquired high-profile players. Consequently, they diminished their stock of minor league prospects. Trading McNeil is a great way to start rebuilding the farm system.
Next: Page 4 – Motor City producer
Jeimer Candelario, Detroit Tigers
2021 – Slash line .271/.351/.443 with 14 home runs, 42 doubles (led-A.L.), and 75 runs scored in 557 at-bats.
Contract Status
Jeimer Candelario is locked in at $5.5M for 2022. In 2023, he is arbitration-eligible and can walk as a free agent the following offseason.
Pros
- He’s a switch hitter, which is always good to have in the lineup. For a manager live Servais who values flexibility, that’s a bonus.
- The American League leader in doubles, Candelario, can hit to the gaps, something the Seattle Mariners could use more of.
- Candelario had a .300 batting average and .932 OPS with runners in scoring position last season.
- A decent fielder, Candelario played his position around an even dWar.
Cons
- It feels like Candelario should drive in more runs than he does, especially because he spends most of his time in the third, fourth, fifth positions in the batting order. Is that a product of the Tigers’ offense, or is that on him?
- Last season he hit well at T-Mobile in 13 at-bats, but for his career, Candelario slashes .241/.267/379 in Seattle.
- The Tigers value him highly; they could demand a hefty return in a trade.
- For his career, Candelario hits 44 points higher a righty. For a team that needs help from the left side, that’s an issue.
A final thought on Jeimer Candaliero
Infielder Harold Castro hit .283 for the Tigers in 2021; Detroit has a replacement for Candelario and can use him to strengthen other areas.
Next: Page 5 – 2022 Rental
Josh Bell, Washington Nationals
2021 – Slash line .261/.347/.476 with 27 home runs, 88 RBI, and 75 runs scored in 498 at-bats.
Contract Status
There is one-year left on Josh Bell‘s contract for $9M. The 29-year-old is free to leave after next season.
Pros
- Bell is a switch hitter who can play first base or one of the corner outfield positions.
- Career .816 OPS
- His 27 Home runs and 88 RBI in 2021 come very close to matching Kyle Seager’s production.
- In his five-year MLB career, Bell has never played for a good team. Seattle should be a playoff contender, and he’s in a contract year. That adds up to a very motivated player.
- A strong hitter from the left side, Bell is not as good from the right, but he doesn’t wilt either. In other words, he’s a tough pitching matchup.
- The Washington Nationals are in full rebuild mode. They would love to get their hands on some of the Seattle Mariners’ prospects.
Cons
- A free agent at the end of the season, Bell is essentially a one-year rental.
- How motivated is Washington motivated to trade him in the offseason? Do they want to gamble on him having a good first half and holding another team hostage at the deadline?
- In Seattle, Bell likely plays first base most of the time. That isn’t good on two fronts. First, he is a poor defensive player. Second, it moves France, who is good defensively at first, to third base for the season.
A final thought on Josh Bell
Of this group, Bell is the best hitter and a switch hitter at that, but by far the worst fielder. Where is the trade-off point, and what do the Mariners part with to get him?
Next: Page 6 – An aging veteran
Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres
2021 – Slash line .269/.337/.395 with 12 home runs and 24 doubles in 509 at-bats.
Contract Status
In 2018, Eric Hosmer signed an 8-year, $144M contract with San Diego. He is due $21M in 2022, then $13M for the next three seasons.
Pros
- Although not the same player he was five years ago, Hosmer is a lefty bat with decent power.
- He hits righties better than lefties .272/.354/.400
- Hosmer would do well with France and Kyle Lewis protecting him in the batting order.
- At this stage of his career, he is a designated hitter candidate, and as a former four-time Gold Glover winner, can give France an occasional day off at first base.
- As a part of the Royals 2015 World Championship team, the 11-year veteran has the valuable postseason experience this young Seattle Mariners locker room lacks.
Cons
- That’s a lot of money to pay, especially for a DH who is in decline. Not sure how much salary San Diego would pick up.
- Speaking of downward trends, since 2018, he has a .735 OPS.
- Hosmer historically doesn’t see the ball well at T-Mobile Park. He has a .286 batting average in Seattle but only walked 3 times in 116 plate appearances.
A final thought on Eric Hosmer
San Diego had the eighth-highest payroll last year and missed the playoff. They would be glad to unload Hosmer. It’s a matter of how much they are willing to pay to make it happen.
Which one of the five players do you think makes the most sense for the Seattle Mariners? Let us know in the comments section below.
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