5 Seattle Mariners Most Likely to Move This Off-Season

The MLB post-season is off to a fantastic start and the hopes are that the Mariners will be involved in that event sometime in the next 2-4 years. But they have work to do, which may include stripping down the roster a little more.

The Mariners aren’t expected to be big players in free agency. Instead, they will let their young guys play in 2020 and re-assess the team and its needs in 2020. But in order to clear the roster spots to let the young guys play, GM Jerry Dipoto still has some work to do.

So today, we will look to identify the 5 players who are most likely headed to a new city for their 2020 season and where that city may just be. But before we begin, let’s set the parameters.

First, we are talking about players who are under contract for the 2020 season or guys we know will be tendered contracts. Wade LeBlanc and his $5 million option won’t come into play, nor will likely non-tender options like Ryon Healy or Tim Beckham.

This also means that all scheduled free agents, such as Felix Hernandez, are not being considered either. Basically, we are narrowing this list down to trade candidates off the projected 40-man roster the day after the World Series ends. With all that out of the way, let’s get started.

5. Omar Narvaez

Omar Narvaez put up perhaps the greatest offensive season of any catcher in the Seattle Mariners 43 seasons. And yet, there is a decent chance he is working with a new pitching staff on Opening Day 2020. How could this be?

Well unfortunately for Narvaez, the team has a better all-around option in Tom Murphy and Austin Nola proved to be, at the very least, a solid offensive backup catcher with versatility. Narvaez’s defense did improve in Seattle, but it still lags behind average.

What keeps Narvaez from being higher on this list is multi-faceted. First, MLB is expanding rosters to 26 players. With Nola’s versatility and Narvaez well-above-average bat, carrying 3 catchers is completely viable.

Second, the market for bat only catchers could be relatively small. Most teams with an everyday catcher look for backups who are stronger defensively than their starter.

Finally, a position change isn’t entirely out of the question. For example, a move to first base could do a few things for the Mariners and Narvaez. It allows Evan White time in Tacoma to start 2020 and could also add trade value to Omar as playing a solid first base gives the acquiring team more options.

Cal Raleigh, the future catcher of the Mariners (they hope), is still at least a full year away from having a chance to stick at the MLB level, so a deal could be put off until this summer or next winter.

Teams that figure to be looking for catcher help include the Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Colorado Rockies.

Likelihood of a trade: 35%

4. Mallex Smith

Another potential one-hit-wonder in Seattle? Well, yes. Mallex Smith is a fun player when he is living up to his billing but 2019 was, for the sake of being friendly, shaky for the 27-year-old OF. His struggles in April are well documented at this point and while things did get better from May on, it was still an uneven season for the AL SB leader.

The Mariners aren’t ready to give up on Smith, but with a crowded outfield, they’ll need to make room somehow. Smith is still young, can run the bases really well, and was actually a lot better in CF than you would expect, finishing 8th in Outs Above-Average (OAA).

He can play all 3 OF spots, which helps his trade value, and the team acquiring him would almost certainly be doing it at a discounted price. Again, Dipoto may not want to move Smith, but with the OF loaded with Domingo Santana, Mitch Haniger, Kyle Lewis, Jake Fraley, Braden Bishop, Tim Lopes, and the soon to be big leaguers like Jared Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, something has to give.

Smith may have the second most value out of that group, making him a prime candidate to get moved this winter. I wouldn’t say it’s likely, as most trades aren’t, but I would call it a higher than usual chance he gets dealt this winter.

Teams in the market for Mallex Smith may include the New York Mets, Florida Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, and the Cleveland Indians.

Likelihood of a trade: 37.5%

3. Mitch Haniger

Man, was 2019 a disappointing year for Mitch Haniger. Or perhaps, frustrating is a better word. After his breakout 2018, Haniger could never repeat his success in 2019 before a ruptured testicle and back injuries forced him to miss 100 games and end his 2019 before he had a chance to get back on track.

With that being said, Haniger was still a useful player and at his age and entering just year 1 of arbitration, he still holds tremendous trade value. We talked about all the reasons the Mariners may trade an OF on the last slide, so let’s talk about why they may not trade this outfielder.

First, he is coming off a mediocre season. His trade value isn’t as high as it was last winter and there is no evidence to suggest he had much of a market last winter either. Seattle still needs impact guys on their 2020 roster and if Haniger is truly seen as a building block, an extension may make more sense than a trade.

While Haniger’s value is down, keeping him for the first half of 2020 and flipping him in June or July wouldn’t diminish his current value at all, assuming he plays well. There are still a lot of ways to play the Haniger situation.

One thing we know is that Jerry Dipoto won’t just flip Haniger for less than what he wants. All indications seem to be that the acquiring team would need to part with young major leaguer(s) or prospects close to the big leagues, as opposed to the classic, high-upside 18-year-old types.

And for a team wanting to compete by 2021, that all makes sense. Whether or not somebody will pay it is another story.

Teams who could be in the market for Mitch Haniger includes the entire league but particularly the White Sox, Indians, Braves, Reds, Cardinals, and Rockies.

Likelihood of a trade: 40%

1. Dee Gordon

Well, Dee, it was a lot of fun. But the time is now. We know the Mariners will be highly motivated to find a taker for Gordon, even if it means eating much of that contract to do it. With just 1-year left on his deal and Shed Long needing extended reps at second base, Dee Gordon’s time in Seattle should end after his second year.

Though he never was great on the field, Gordon would leave behind a solid legacy in Seattle and is a sizeable presence in the clubhouse. Always able to crack a smile and never take things too seriously, Dee was a clubhouse favorite for his 2 years in Seattle, but his on the field production can’t be ignored. He was disappointing, to say the least.

And now he is taking up space on the roster and there is no real incentive to keep him on the roster. Gordon’s name, reputation, and relative cheapness to acquire should create a decent market for him, especially when considering that Dipoto will likely eat a large portion of the remaining deal.

Seattle is motivated to move him and the market should be good enough to find a taker, especially when you factor in the mediocre free-agent second base class this off-season.

Teams that may be interested in Gordon include the Dodgers, Rockies, Nationals, and Giants.

Likelihood of a trade: 70%