Mariners: 3 Potentially surprising landing spots for Mitch Haniger

After another quiet day from the Seattle Mariners in the hot stove league, we continue to look at the rumor that the team is willing to talk to teams about trades involving their best player, Mitch Haniger.

Yesterday, we look at 3 of the more likely landing spots for Mariners’ right fielder Mitch Haniger. While there are still serious doubts as to whether or not Seattle will trade Haniger, there won’t be a shortage of potential suitors.

Haniger’s age, skill, versatility, and extended club control with well below market value salary, means he could be a fit with just about any team. Now, the overwhelming odds would seem to indicate that Haniger will begin 2020 with Seattle.

But, we like to be prepared. So today, we present 3 potentially surprising teams that could be interested in Mitch Haniger.

1. Boston Red Sox

Surprising, I know. After years of having one of the best outfields in all of baseball, it appears the Red Sox have become tired of winning and will heavily shop stalwart players like Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts.

This is, in theory, being done to allow Boston to fall below the luxury tax threshold. But despite the Red Sox seeming eagerness to trade away an MVP quality player, they aren’t looking for a long-term rebuild, so they’ll need quality big leaguers to replace them. And if they don’t want to fall too far behind the Yankees and Rays, the replacements probably need to be All-Star quality. Hello Mitch Haniger.

Not only is Haniger an All-Star level player, but he is only expected to make $3 million in 2020 and will cost less in his 3 seasons than Mookie Betts will in 2020. Haniger is a good fit to help replace the production, as his right-handed power would seem like a perfect fit in Fenway Park.

The Red Sox makes a lot of sense but they don’t have a lot of assets that make sense in this type of trade. Their farm system is mediocre and they have very few young, MLB assets from which the Mariners could ask for.

Boston’s best prospect is Triston Casas, who has a plus arm and power. But he isn’t a great athlete and will likely land at first base. The Mariners believe they have their future first baseman and Casas is at least 2 years away anyways. He’s just not a fit right now(unless they believe he can play third).

Jarren Duran, Tanner Houck, and Jay Groome could all make more sense for Seattle and are all good prospects, but lack the thump at the top of a deal to carry a Haniger trade. Andrew Bennetindi is unlikely to be dealt unless Seattle provides the Red Sox salary relief, but that is a different ball game.

Overall, the Red Sox are a good fit without an obvious group of players for the Mariners to target. But Boston could have enough to get a deal done and one that should satisfy Dipoto’s price tag.