I’ll start with this statement: Unless proven otherwise, I always assume the Mariners won’t spend money on hitters and will instead just make trades or sign small one-year deals. Whether it’s the owner being stingy, the hitters not wanting to come here because the hitter’s eye is crooked, or some combination of the two, this just hasn’t happened to the Mariners in the past.
That being said… one can hope. I never want to fully believe that the team isn’t going to spend money, because that’s just a sad and infuriating situation. If the Mariners were to sign some of the best free agents in the upcoming free agent class, what might that look like?
In his recent look at the top 10 free agents of the upcoming offseason, Mark Feinsand lists his top ten, but goes a step further and even names a few teams that he thinks are the best fit. We know the Mariners need offensive players, which is why you don’t see their name linked to Blake Snell there. What you do see is that the Mariners are linked to one of Snell’s teammates, Matt Chapman.
This is a name that Mariners fans have heard for a while. Chapman signed a three-year deal with the Giants, but it comes with an opt-out clause after the first season. There seems to be some discrepancy online when looking at what he signed and how long he could stay with the Giants, but one thing is clear. Chapman already has a 5.6 WAR and will be entering his 32nd season. He is sure to be valued at more than $18 million AAV per season, which triggers his opt-out clause.
If he opts out, could the Mariners spend the money needed and give him a 4-year, $100 million contract? That would probably be in the right range and high enough to be justifiable and worth bringing him into the Mariners uniform.
The other name on the list that he’s linked to the Mariners is much more familiar to us, if only because we’ve seen him face the Mariners so many times over the last decade. Alex Bregman will also be a free agent and there’s a chance he’ll test the market rather than return to Houston.
Now, if things go wrong when he talks to Houston, or they offer him too low, that could push him even more to sign with a division rival. That goes with the “I’ll show them” mindset. Could that be the way to go for the Mariners? Giving away a cornerstone of their rivals’ success over the last decade could be huge for the Mariners, especially at a position they’ve struggled with since Seager left.
The bigger question is whether the Mariners could have both players. That’s pretty unlikely, especially since Mitch Haniger and Mitch Garver are still on the team and cost a lot of money. Also, both play third base, but maybe move one to first base or DH if you really want them both. But having either of them could happen, especially when you look at the garbage the Mariners throw at the bench on a daily basis.
The Mariners need offensive players and it’s never too early to start thinking about who they might sign. If they’re finally able to make a splash in free agency and add a hitter to the team that way, we’d all be happy to see one of those third basemen make the team.
