Mariners Targets: Should they pursue Eddie Rosario in Free Agency?

The Mariners were so close to making the playoffs in 2021. Baseball felt alive in Seattle once again, and fans were more and more involved as the season went on. The Mariners finished with 90 wins, two more than the team that ended up winning the World Series, the Atlanta Braves. I feel it’s where they could look for a short-term answer in their outfield in signing Eddie Rosario.

I know we all want them to go out and sign a couple of big-name free agents. I’m not saying that they shouldn’t. I do feel like Rosario is one of the pieces that they could look to in further shoring up their offense though.

Eddie Rosario could bring a good bat and playoff experience at an affordable price

One thing to start off with. Depending on where you look, you are going to get somewhere around average defense from Rosario in Left. You know what though? That’s totally fine when you combine it with the bat he can bring to your lineup and the amount of money that it will likely cost to get him.

In 2019 and 2020, Eddie Rosario actually received MVP votes in both seasons, finishing 18th and 17th, respectively. He showed that ability once again once he ended up in Atlanta after the Guardians traded him there at the deadline. He hit .271/.330/.573 (!), and .383/.456/.617 in the playoffs.

This year’s average is pretty much in line with what he has done in his career, as he has compiled a .275/.309/.473, although the OBP has gotten better in recent years. He also brings decent speed, with 50 steals in ~800 games, and can be expected to steal 8-10 bags a season. What I’m most excited about is the potential for a left fielder who could provide a good average and a fair amount of pop.

Here’s why I want him. Rosario isn’t supposed to get a ton of money this offseason. Rumors have Rosario signing for nearly the same as what he made this season, $8 million. The Mariners could likely offer something similar to a 2-$20 million deal and get a great “bargain” corner outfielder.

In an ideal world, I would love to see the Mariners sign an LH reliever, a near ace starter as well as a mid-back end guy, a stud hitter, and then a good bat. If Rosario is the good bat, then I think the Mariners will have made a significant step in the right direction towards breaking that playoff drought. Would you pay $8-10 million a year for a couple of years for these numbers?

• .274/.311/.476 with 28 2B, 27 HR, 95 RBI, and 8 SB

Those are his averages if he plays 146 games a season. I would definitely sign him, and I think that the Mariners should do it as well. It definitely can’t be their only big signing. That would be a “failure” of an offseason based on everything that fans are hoping for combined with the words that we have heard from Dipoto about spending money. Adding Eddie Rosario to the rest of the deals, hopefully that is, would make for a fantastic signing.