The Five Best Free Agent Destinations for Kyle Seager

Kyle Seager‘s 11-year tenure with the Seattle Mariners came to an end on Sunday afternoon, when the Mariners were eliminated from postseason contention on the last day of the regular season.

While the Mariners’ loss and subsequent ending to their season caused plenty of heartache for fans, Seager’s sendoff in the top of the 9th inning induced even more emotion from fans; Mariners manager Scott Servais stopped the game mid-inning to pull Seager from the game, resulting in thunderous applause from the fans in T-Mobile Park, emotional farewells from teammates at the pitcher’s mound, and a member of the grounds crew displacing third base and gifting it to Seager.

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As most Mariners fans know, Seager is eligible for a $20 million contract option to play in Seattle next season, but it’s looking unlikely that Mariners management will be picking up the option (the spectacular sendoff at T-Mobile Park on Sunday only adds to this speculation).

Seager is 33 and coming off a season in which he set career highs in home runs and RBIs, so it’s doubtful he’s ready to call it a career. Let’s take a look at a few clubs from around the league who could be interested in picking up the veteran third baseman, starting with his least likely destination and ending with the team most likely to sign him.

The New York Yankees love to spend; could they use some money this offseason on Kyle Seager?

The Yankees don’t have a lot of holes in their lineup, let alone at third base. Gio Urshela gets most of the reps at third, and he surely isn’t going anywhere; he is 29 years old with a .744 career OPS, and is under contract through 2023. The other third baseman on the roster is utility infielder Rougned Odor, who hasn’t been impressive this season, but is owed a guaranteed $12 million next season. That contract will be nearly impossible for the Yankees to get out of.

At DH, the Yankees will be set next season with a combination of Joey Gallo (assuming he isn’t traded) and Giancarlo Stanton. However, the one reason the Yankees make this list is if centerfielder Aaron Hicks is past his prime (he hit .194 this year before a season-ending injury), resulting in Gallo taking over in center field, Stanton moving to left field, and Seager splitting DH/third base duties with Urshela.

As we all know, the Yankees are always willing to spend in free agency. However, due to their veteran-laden roster and infield depth, the Yankees are a long-shot destination for Seager.

The Washington Nationals have a major need at third base; could Kyle Seager take the reins for a few years?

The Nationals are in a really bad situation. Starting pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin are in the middle of $245 million and $140 million contracts (respectively), but Strasburg has been mired with injuries and Corbin is coming off of the worst season of his career. At the trade deadline, they shipped out offensive stars Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Yan Gomes, and Josh Harrison, and are now left with MVP candidate Juan Soto as their only hope.

At third base, the Nationals primarily used 24-year-old Carter Kieboom this season, but he is likely to move back to his natural position of shortstop with Alcides Escobar and Jordy Mercer hitting free agency. Soto is the only real left-handed threat in the lineup at this point, and third base is empty, so the Nationals would surely love to take him on for a few years. However, it’s unlikely Seager would be interested in signing with a rebuilding team at this point in his career.

The Seattle Mariners are expected to be major players in free agency; if they fall short, could they bring back Kyle Seager?

Based on the events at T-Mobile Park in Seattle this weekend, it appears that Kyle Seager has played his last game as a Mariner. However, a return to Seattle on a new free agent deal is not out of the question; according to Seattle Times beat writer Ryan Divish, Seager has not had any conversations with General Manager Jerry Dipoto about his future with the team.

The Mariners have plenty of salary cap room to spend big this offseason, and it’s expected they will pursue some big name free agent infielders such as Marcus Semien and Trevor Story. Semien, a power-hitting second baseman, seems like a perfect fit in Seattle, as he would provide a stabilizing presence in the middle of the batting order and would allow Abraham Toro to move back to his more natural position of third base.

If the Mariners aren’t able to bring in a top-tier infielder, though, and if Seager hasn’t signed elsewhere, it’s very possible he could return to Seattle. The Mariners need a left-handed power bat in the middle of the order as Jarred Kelenic continues to develop, so bringing back Seager on a one or two-year deal (while top prospect Noelvi Marte rises through the minor leagues) is an option the Mariners could, and should, consider.

The Atlanta Braves have a stacked lineup; could Kyle Seager help supplement it?

The Braves have now won the NL East four seasons in a row, but they’re not going to stop until they win the World Series. While Austin Riley, the Braves’ third baseman, just had a huge season as arguably the best player on the team, there are question marks in the Braves’ outfield next year; if Marcell Ozuna moves to DH (assuming the National League implements the universal DH next year), Riley could transition to the outfield to make room for a power-hitting lefty.

As for Seager, Atlanta is almost a sure bet as his most ideal destination this offseason. Atlanta is a 3-4 hour drive from North Carolina (Seager’s home state), and it’s been oft speculated that Seager and his family would like to move closer to home. Also, veterans typically prefer to play for contending teams, so the Braves’ presence as the incumbent NL East champions would be an added bonus for him.

The Braves have a right-handed heavy lineup (besides switch-hitter Ozzie Albies and reigning MVP Freddie Freeman), so they could end up being seriously interested in adding a power lefty to supplement their lineup, especially if Seager is willing to take a discount to play closer to home.