Bleacher Report positions Mariners to steal slugger from division rival

The Mariners have had quite a bit of difficulty filling in the first base position over the past few years. Despite a few productive years from Ty France, he was ultimately designated for assignment and posted a lackluster 85 OPS+ with the Reds over his final 195 plate appearances of the year, suggesting that Seattle made the right choice in letting him go.

They got by with Luke Raley and Justin Turner sharing the load at first base, but it was still a clear point of weakness for the team. While the latter has expressed interest in returning for another year, the team may be better off looking for slightly younger help. Perhaps, a perennially underrated 33 year-old with a consistent track record could be the answer.

In a recent Bleacher Report article listing the top 10 landing spots for Christian Walker in free agency, the Mariners came in at number two, just one spot above the Houston Astros. Not only would it be great for the M's to take away a potential free agent target from their rivals, it would be an intrinsically outstanding pickup for Seattle as he has been one of the most consistent players at his position.

Over the past three seasons, he has averaged a 123 OPS+ while accumulating 11.4 rWAR. After a shaky start to this major league career, it seems that he has made the adjustments necessary to perform at the highest level.

In addition to his .251/.335/.468 slash line in 2024, a more detailed look at his player profile illustrates just how effective he is at the plate. With a top-decile barrel rate of 13.3% and an average exit velocity of 91.2 mph, he's among those who hit the ball the hardest in MLB. Power hitters such as himself can often be too aggressive, striking out more than necessary, but his swing decisions weren't much worse than league average, and he compensated by posting a 10% walk rate. Along with being one of the best defensive infielders in MLB, he really is the whole package for a veteran at this stage in his career.

Unfortunately for Seattle, such a talented hitter comes with a slew of competitors eager to win his services. It has been reported that as many as six teams are interested in signing him, including the Diamondbacks, his current club. Given his age, he won't sign a long-term deal, but MLBTradeRumors is projecting him to settle for a contract in the realm of $60 million over three years, a drop in the bucket for bigger spenders but a more significant amount for Seattle's front office.

The Mariners have been named as a potential landing spot for quite a few players this offseason with the main focus being on finding offensive upgrades. Most recently, they were named as a major suitor for Anthony Santander, but their outfield may not be the most important area to upgrade. Nico Hoerner is another target that could help bolster what was a mediocre offensive infield last year, but fans will have to wait and see what the club decides to do with their offseason.

They could choose to be a legitimate postseason contender or settle for another year of regular season disappointment. But at least the Walker projections favor the former.