It’s been a quiet offseason up to now for the Mariners, who’ve but to signal a free agent to a significant league deal. They’ve been linked to commerce candidates like Cody Bellinger, Alec Bohm, and Nico Hoerner, and are reportedly listening to provides for Luis Castillo, however president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto got here away from the Winter Conferences with out pulling off any swaps both.
Nonetheless, the Mariners stay looking out for methods to enhance an offense that completed twenty first in runs scored in 2024. Reviews surfaced at first of the offseason that the membership was searching for infield bats. Earlier this week, Dipoto confirmed that first, second, and third base are all areas of want (per Ryan Divish of The Seattle Instances). As issues stand, shortstop J.P. Crawford appears to be Seattle’s solely infielder with a assured on a regular basis beginning function.
In accordance with Divish, the Mariners have been aiming to test first base off their to-do record earlier than the top of the Winter Conferences. They’d beforehand expressed curiosity in each Carlos Santana and Justin Turner, they usually have been apparently keen to supply both veteran a one-year deal this week. For sure, neither fish was biting, however that doesn’t imply Dipoto has given up. On that notice, Divish supplied additional perception into Seattle’s pursuit of Santana and Turner, reporting that the group is searching for an skilled hitter who can bat from the best aspect to separate enjoying time with the lefty-batting Luke Raley. Raley hits nicely towards righties however struggled badly in restricted enjoying time towards same-handed pitching in 2024. Turner has had impartial platoon splits all through his profession, and the switch-hitting Santana has performed his finest work towards southpaws. Both might make a productive platoon accomplice for Raley.
With that stated, one has to surprise if the newly minted Gold Glove winner Santana could be keen to simply accept something lower than a full-time job at first base. He’s coming off his finest season in 5 years and may not be all for a job that might contain splitting enjoying time. Turner, then again, thrived in a primary base/DH function for Seattle down the stretch in 2024. He has additionally made it clear that he’d be joyful to return to the M’s. On the finish of the common season, he informed Daniel Kramer of MLB.com in no unsure phrases, “I’d like to be again and be a Mariner.”
Then once more, if Santana may be persuaded to register Seattle, he is perhaps the extra impactful participant. Due to his robust protection, he has outproduced Turner over the previous two years in keeping with each model of Wins Above Alternative. He’s additionally a 12 months and a half youthful than Turner, who turned 40 in November. To that time, Divish urged the Mariners is perhaps leaning towards Santana in a latest look on the “Each day Puck Drop” podcast, saying he believes Santana is their “precedence” proper now at first base.
Talking of righty-batting, veteran first basemen, the Mariners have additionally expressed curiosity in Christian Walker. Kramer reviews the group has had “conversations” about signing Walker, although he notes the three-time Gold Glove winner might be out of their worth vary. Certainly, Divish suggests the Mariners have roughly $15MM to $17MM left to spend this winter, barring any trades to chop payroll. Given the truth that Walker turned down the one-year, $21.05 million qualifying provide, he’s absolutely searching for a contract value greater than $17MM per 12 months. MLBTR predicted a three-year, $60MM deal for Walker on our High 50 Free Brokers record. Whereas he might be a much more useful addition than both Santana or Turner, that worth will probably be mirrored in his asking worth.
It’s additionally value stating {that a} participant like Walker actually isn’t going to separate enjoying time with Raley. He’s going to be the on a regular basis first baseman wherever he indicators. Thus, if the Mariners have been to signal Walker, it might push Raley into the designated hitter function. That might be one more reason the match doesn’t make sense. Alternatively, maybe Dipoto might package deal the proficient and cost-controlled Raley with one in every of his higher-priced veterans (similar to Mitch Haniger or Mitch Garver) as a option to get one other group to tackle one in every of his fascinating contracts. If he might pull off such a transfer, maybe he might unlock sufficient payroll to signal Walker with out going over funds.