Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners.
As the title suggests, the Seattle Mariners need to replace Kyle Seager. Even though various PNWS articles tried to trade him over the last two seasons, filling Seager’s shoes is no easy task. The M’s would be hard-pressed to replace his leadership and defense, let alone the 35 home runs and 101 RBIs he put up last season.
The M’s are in a good position, though. Not only does Seattle have some in-house candidates, but according to General Manager Jerry Dipoto, they also have money to spend on free agents. So here’s a look at who could be playing the hot corner in Seattle next season.
Dipoto and Mariners skipper Scott Servais may decide to go with someone who is already on the roster to take over at third base.
This is an interesting option because Ty France is the Seattle Mariners’ most consistent offensive threat. Last May, after incumbent first baseman Evan White went down with a season-ending injury, France replaced him and played the position almost flawlessly.
For France to move over to third, White would not only have to recover fully, but he also has to prove he’s a much better hitter than his .165 career average so far. Then again, Seattle has a significant financial investment in White, and he’ll get an opportunity to win his job back.
These four players are grouped together because they are pretty much interchangeable. The bigger challenge is that all four are better defensively at second than they are at third, and that position is also open.
Of the quartet, Dylan Moore is at the biggest disadvantage. The M’s have a righty dominant batting order, and he’s the only true right-handed bat in the group. His greatest value to the team might be coming off the bench. Moore can play almost any position and has led the team in stolen bases in each of the past two seasons.
Seattle traded their closer Kendall Graveman to get the switch-hitting Abraham Toro. He had a hot stretch at the beginning of September. But from 9/11 to the end of the season, Toro put up a slash line of .123/.200/.178/.378. He wilted down the stretch when his team needed him the most.
Adam Frazier hasn’t played much third base in his major league career, but because the Seattle Mariners have so much position flexibility, he could find himself playing there from time time. He’s a former all-star, and last season the lefty stick hit .305 with a .368 on-base percentage. Both would have led the M’s
The wild card is Sam Haggerty. A switch-hitter, Haggerty showed flashes of talent at times and, like Moore, is extremely versatile. Unfortunately, he battled injuries the last two seasons, which limited his effectiveness. 2022 is put up or go home time for him.
Two free agents stand tall above anyone else in this article Nick Castellanos and Kris Bryant. To be clear, both these guys will sign huge contracts when the business of baseball resumes. Each is represented by Scott Boros, so there will be no sweetheart deals.
Castellanos might be the best hitter available in free agency (no disrespect to Freddie Freeman). He’s everything the Seattle Mariners need, wrapped up in one package. Pardon the pun, but last season Castellanos knocked it out of the park. He hit .309 (fourth in the National League) with 38 doubles (fourth), 34 home runs (seventh), 100 RBI (sixth) and a .939 OPS (fourth).
The former Detroit Tigers first-round pick (2010) played more leftfield than third base in recent years. However, that shouldn’t be a problem. He isn’t great with the glove, but what Castellanos does at the plate more than outweighs any defensive deficiencies.
At long last, Bryant’s long personal nightmare is over; he’s a free agent. It seems like the slugger made more headlines in the last few years by accusing the Chicago Cubs of service time manipulation than he did on the field.
The Seattle Mariners need to look past his bluster. Bryant is a former NL Rookie of the Year, MVP, and four-time all-star. Maybe more important, he won a World Series in 2016. A young team on the rise could use that kind of valuable experience.
Bryant won’t be confused with Brooks Robinson defensively as a third baseman, but he isn’t a big liability either. Bryant’s job is to hit, which he does very well. Last year, the seven-year MLB vet slashed .265/.343/.481/.835 with 25 homers and 73 runs driven in
There are other free agents to consider. Next up are Ehire Adrianza, Starlin Castro, and Seattle native Jake Lamb. All three are serviceable but don’t offer anywhere near the production of Castellanos or Bryant. If Dipoto cant land either Castellanos or Bryant, he’s better off making a trade.
Two players the Seattle Mariners should highly consider trading for, both play in New York, Jeff McNeil (Mets) and Miguel Andujar (Yankees).
If the M’s want McNeil, he won’t be cheap. The Mets don’t have to trade him, and he’s been a mainstay of their lineup since 2019. Injuries took their toll on “The Flying Squirrel” in 2021. He only hit .251, which was 68 points below his career average. His defense is good, and McNeill gets on base at a career .364 clip.
NYM traded away several of their top minor leaguers over the past few years, so their farm system needs an upgrade, especially pitching. Of course, they’ll ask for George Kirby or Emerson Hancock but might be willing to take Connor Phillips and Matt Brash plus someone off the main roster.
Andujar will be cheaper, but there’s a good reason why. He hasn’t been the same since injuring his rotator cuff in May of 2019. Before the injury, Andujar hit .297 with a .853 OBP. After he got hurt, those numbers dropped to .228 and .588.
The Yankees say they still believe in him. But New York is a fickle market; GM Brian Cashman may not be able to keep him around. They could use outfield help, and the M’s might have a good one to spare, so a deal might get done.
Who do you think should be the next Seattle Mariners’ third baseman? Let us know in the comments section below.