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Seattle Mariners: 5 Offseason Predictions

By Ty Gonzalez

SEATTLE, WA - JULY 1: Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais hugs starting pitcher James Paxton #65 of the Seattle Mariners after Paxton got the final out of eighth inning in a game against the Kansas City Royals at Safeco Field on July 1, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 1-0. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JULY 1: Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais hugs starting pitcher James Paxton #65 of the Seattle Mariners after Paxton got the final out of eighth inning in a game against the Kansas City Royals at Safeco Field on July 1, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 1-0. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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THE MARINERS WILL DIVE INTO THE SECOND BASE MARKET

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Brian Dozier #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he flips his bat after flying out in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Brian Dozier #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he flips his bat after flying out in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on September 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Dee Gordon and Robinson Canó might be the two most interesting players on the Mariners’ current roster. They affect three positions on the roster as of now and the Mariners should probably address that. Gordon could end up being the team’s starting center fielder in 2019, with Canó returning to his natural position of second base. Alternatively, Gordon could retain his spot at second base and Canó would transition into a full-time first baseman with some flexibility to move around the infield.

To me, the most viable route for them to take is to either trade Gordon or convert him to a full-time utility player, Canó does move to first, and the Mariners fill their holes in center field and second base through free agency. The free agent class of second baseman is very rich and should be relatively affordable for the Mariners. It’s too good of an opportunity to pass up when analyzing what will be available to them.

This is what I expect them to do after hearing Jerry Dipoto mention wanting to do whatever made their roster as flexible as possible in response to a question about Canó’s future on Monday. It makes a lot of sense, given the clear drop-off in talent the 2018 roster had in its offensive players.

The Mariners could realistically end up with one of D.J. LeMahieu, Brian Dozier, Jed Lowrie, Daniel Murphy, or even Asdrubal Cabrera, and I’d be ecstatic about any one of them. Just no Ian Kinsler. Ew.

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