Mariners’ Dylan Moore and Jake Bauers Competing for 2022 Roster Spot

The Seattle Mariners love to find the hidden gems. Two of Seattle’s current position players, Dylan Moore and Jake Bauers, were both found by the Mariners when other teams gave up on them; however, while Moore and Bauers have both experienced newfound career success in Seattle, there may not be room on the roster for both of them next season.

Moore, an ultra-utility player with power and speed potential, has flashed excellent defense, mashed 12 home runs, and swiped 21 bases this season, but his extreme dip in batting average (.183 this season) has his future in Seattle looking cloudy. Bauers (another young player with power and speed), meanwhile, has made some stellar defensive plays, but his .214 BA, four home runs, and six stolen bases haven’t been impressive for him on the offensive side.

This offseason, Seattle is looking to build a roster that can contend not only for the playoffs, but possibly for an AL West championship. On a contending roster, there just isn’t room for two position players who don’t produce much offensively. However, with both Moore and Bauers under contract next season, and both players having niche skills that can help an MLB team succeed, it’s unlikely that the Mariners will choose to part with both of them.

This offseason, the Mariners should hold onto Dylan Moore and trade Jake Bauers.

While Bauers has hit for a better average than Moore this season (and gotten on-base slightly more often), Moore’s specific skill set is more effective for the Mariners’ style of play, while Bauers’ trade value is likely higher than Moore’s.

All season, we’ve seen the Mariners move position players around the field on defense, and we’ve also seen them send their baserunners in clutch situations. Moore has starts at third, second, shortstop, left field, and right field this season, and also leads the team in stolen bases. Despite his lower batting average, his skill set is highly valued in Seattle.

Bauers, at age 25 (compared to Moore’s 29), could still be an attractive trade piece this offseason. His prospect status was once quite high during his days in Cleveland, and he’s shown real power potential this season along with playing a solid left/right field. Bauers may not net a bona-fide prospect or an immediate contributor, but he could return an interesting prospect or two that could help bolster a farm system that will lose a couple of big names over the next few years.