The Seattle Mariners have reached a mutual agreement to add another sensational star to their roster, signaling their aggressive approach to bolstering their offense this summer. According to a report by Will Sammon, Patrick Mooney, and Ken Rosenthal from The Athletic, the Mariners are prepared to spend significantly to strengthen their team, aligning with earlier comments from managing partner John Stanton. Stanton had assured that the front office would have the necessary resources to enhance the club.
While many teams are still deciding whether to be buyers or sellers, the Mariners are firmly positioned as buyers. With a record of 44-33 and an eight-game lead in their division, thanks to slow starts from the Astros and Rangers, the Mariners are in a strong position.
The team’s success has largely been driven by their pitching. They have a collective batting line of .220/.300/.369, translating to a wRC+ of 97, indicating they are slightly below average in offense. However, their pitching staff boasts a collective earned run average of 3.53, the seventh-best in the majors, with the rotation posting an impressive 3.39 ERA.
Given their standings and the strength of their rotation, the Mariners are well-positioned to add offensive power for a postseason run. The Athletic report highlights the Mariners’ strong pipeline of prospects, with five players on Keith Law’s top 50 list at The Athletic and seven in Baseball America’s top 100. FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline each have four Mariners in their top 100 lists.
Financially, the Mariners are in a good position to make significant moves. Concerns about TV revenue had previously limited their payroll increase, leading to cost-cutting trades involving players like Eugenio Suarez and Jarred Kelenic. However, they did add some financial flexibility by signing Mitch Garver and acquiring Jorge Polanco.
With the club starting strong and having financial wiggle room, the Mariners are set to be one of the most fascinating teams to watch in the coming months. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, known for his propensity for trades, is expected to be active as the trade deadline approaches.
The primary question for the Mariners’ front office is how much future talent they are willing to sacrifice for immediate upgrades. Teams are increasingly reluctant to trade top prospects, and the Mariners’ brass may face tough decisions on whether to hold onto or trade away their young talent.
There are several ways the Mariners could add offense. Out of the 16 players who have taken at least 20 plate appearances this year, only five have an above-average wRC+: Ty France, Josh Rojas, Dylan Moore, Luke Raley, and Dominic Canzone. Julio Rodríguez and Mitch Garver have started to heat up after slow starts, while Cal Raleigh, despite striking out a lot, has been a strong defensive catcher with 12 home runs. J.P. Crawford has faced some bad luck with his batting average on balls in play but continues to provide strong defense at shortstop.
The players struggling the most are Polanco and Mitch Haniger. Polanco, currently on the injured list with a right hamstring strain, has a batting line of .195/.293/.302 for the year. Haniger is hitting .218/.286/.336 with a wRC+ of 83 and subpar defense. Moore has taken over second base in Polanco’s absence and has performed well, offering the team flexibility in pursuing external additions.
Potential targets for the Mariners include Tommy Pham, Eloy Jimenez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Bryan De La Cruz. The White Sox might consider trading Luis Robert Jr., though it would require a significant deal. The Angels and Athletics could look to move players like Taylor Ward, Luis Rengifo, Brandon Drury, Brent Rooker, or Miguel Andujar, though the Mariners might be hesitant to trade young talent to a division rival. Depending on the Wild Card race outcomes, players like Randy Arozarena, Jesse Winker, or Mark Canha could also become available.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Mariners’ aggressive stance and strong position make them a team to watch closely.
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