Mark Reynolds: Seattle Mariners Free Agent Target

As the 2014-15 Hot Stove season gets heated up, we are going to start speculating as to which bats the Mariners will be targeting. Now, unexpected things happen. While I may have speculated and advocated for the M’s to sign Robinson Cano, Corey Hart and trade for Logan Morrison this past year, I did not expect those things to all happen.

We also speculated in great detail about the M’s signing Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin-Soo Choo and Nelson Cruz.

So, let the speculation begin. The Hot Stove is heating up and we have our first name on what will surely be a never-ending wheel of candidates.

Mark Reynolds – 1B – Milwaukee Brewers

On the surface, this may not be the answer. After all, Mark Reynolds strikes out a TON, hits for a low average and is an average fielder at best. But what if he wasn’t asked to play the field? What if the Mariners bring him to Seattle simply for his bat?

Reynolds has spent three of his eight big league seasons in the American League (two with Baltimore, one between Cleveland and New York). In those three seasons, Reynolds averaged the following line:

.221/.321/.438, 27 HR, 74 RBI, 169 K.

Not a stellar slash line, but those 27 HR would have led the Mariners this season. Plus, he has had bigger seasons. He has had three seasons of 30+ homers including 44 in 2009 while with Arizona.

He may come relatively cheap as well, giving the Mariners the flexibility to still add another impact bat.

Plus, when you look at Seattle’s stats at DH this past year, almost anything would be an improvement.

.190/.266/.301, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 137 K.

Now let’s put that up against what Reynolds did for the Brewers in 2014.

.196/.287/.394, 22 HR, 45 RBI, 122 K.

Similar numbers. I’m not saying this is the answer. Of course, the Mariners will take a long look at guys like Victor Martinez and Michael Cuddyer, as they should.

But both of them are in their mid-30’s while Reynolds just turned 31 in August. He is just the first of many that we are going to take a look at. But he will be on the list of targets for the M’s.

Here’s your chance to sound off. Tell us what think of the possibility of landing Reynolds in the poll below.