The Mariners’ acquisition of Randy Arozarena final night time is probably probably the most notable swap of the season to this point, however Seattle isn’t content material with that lone acquisition. MLB.com’s Jon Morosi tweets that the M’s are nonetheless speaking to different golf equipment, wanting so as to add one other bat and a high-leverage reliever. Adam Jude of the Seattle Occasions provides some context on the group’s seek for bats, reporting that two of the highest bats available on the market — Oakland’s Brent Rooker and Chicago’s Luis Robert — is probably not more likely to land in Seattle. The A’s have been reluctant to commerce with Seattle, per Jude, whereas an acquisition of Robert is taken into account “extremely unlikely at this level.”
Each Rooker and Robert would add a controllable, high-end bat to what has been a stagnant Mariners offense. Rooker is arb-eligible for the primary time this offseason and managed three extra years. Robert is signed by way of the 2025 season, and his contract accommodates a pair of $20MM membership choices.
The A’s haven’t at all times been reluctant to deal inside the AL West, however the final time they accomplished a commerce with the Mariners got here again in 2017, when the 2 golf equipment swapped Emilio Pagan for Ryon Healy. In reality, the one commerce they’ve made with a division rival prior to now three years was this April’s acquisition of righty Brandon Bielak in a deal that despatched money again to the Astros. It’s at all times attainable there’ll be a change in course, however their once-frequent intra-division trades (e.g. Elvis Andrus, Khris Davis, Jed Lowrie, Jurickson Profar, Pagan, Healy) have dried up in recent times.
With regard to Robert, there’s no intra-division part to be thought-about, however traction on Robert hasn’t actually picked up, it appears. ESPN’s Jeff Passan writes that the White Sox have set a excessive asking value and haven’t but seen potential commerce companions prepared to satisfy it and even come notably shut.
The mere point out of Rooker and Robert aligns largely with the newest reporting from Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, who means that Seattle’s entrance workplace has been “aggressive” in making an attempt so as to add a number of affect bats. Arozarena checks one field, however the Mariners’ lineup might use upgrades at a number of spots.
It’s even attainable the M’s and Rays might line up on one other deal; Kramer writes that the 2 groups mentioned infielders Isaac Paredes and Yandy Diaz within the offseason. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tweets that the Mariners are once more a possible touchdown spot for Diaz, who’s drawing commerce curiosity and was reinstated from the restricted record inside the previous hour after a week-long absence to are inclined to an undisclosed household matter.
Like Arozarena, the 32-year-old Diaz received out to a sluggish begin in 2024 however has heated up in current months. Over his previous 280 plate appearances, he’s slashing a strong .302/.354/.453 with seven homers, 16 doubles, a triple and only a 13.9% strikeout charge. He’d give the Mariners an improve over the just lately designated Ty France and concurrently accomplish the group’s ongoing aim of lowering their MLB-worst strikeout charge. He’s incomes $8MM the second season of a three-year, $24MM contract extension and is owed $10MM in 2025 earlier than the group should determine on a $12MM choice for the 2026 season.
Paredes, 25, is arguably one of the vital interesting potentialities on your entire commerce market. He’s performed third base primarily of late, however the versatile infielder can deal with all 4 infield positions and has emerged as a real middle-of-the-order slugger. Courting again to Opening Day 2023, he’s slashed .250/.353/.469 with 47 homers in 241 video games. He’s incomes solely $3.4MM this season within the first of 4 arbitration seasons (as a Tremendous Two participant). Paredes’ versatility, productive bat, remaining management and at the moment inexpensive price ticket might make the prospect value to amass him prohibitive, however the Rays are typically open to hear on anybody — and groups have been not less than inquiring on Paredes just lately.
