Icing: Mariners get their utility Slugger
Brandon Drury enjoyed a career year in 2022, amassing 2.6 WAR with Cincinnati and San Diego. Drury has always been an average ball player, but he turned a corner over the past few years by dedicating his approach to hitting the ball with authority. As a result, the past four years have the longtime utility man swinging with a 43.7% hard-hit rate.
Even after the trade of Kolten Wong, Manager Scott Servais could use Brandon Drury on this roster. Positional versatility is an attribute this group covets and the 30-year-old utility man is the poster child. He can handle most infield positions (minus shortstop) and left field, which would give the Servais the ability to rest Ty France, Eugenio Suarez, and offer platoon options for Wong and presumably Jarred Kelenic.
Additionally, Dipoto stated the need for a right-handed bat who can cover the corners and provide some thump to the bottom of the lineup. Drury is that guy. Imaging being able to slide a Silver Slugger into the seven hole of the lineup. That is the epitome of depth.
Sign him to a 2 yr – $24M contract which looks like a bargain compared to the other free agent contracts thus far.