Mariners again pointlessly teased as a destination for former Astros nemesis

Seattle Mariners ownership finally authorized an aggressive approach at the trade deadline and subsequently received plenty of praise after trading for Eugenio Suárez, Josh Naylor and Caleb Ferguson.

However, following a glorious run of 10 wins in 11 games, seven losses in eight have plenty of people reverting to the standard setting of anxiety and feeling of impending doom which is intrinsically woven into the DNA of the average M's fan.

By extension, despite fans and media alike complimenting the Mariners' trade deadline, they are still plenty who criticized the organization for not strengthening the roster in the offseason as opposed to waiting until the end of July. If the M's do fail to make the playoffs again, then you can expect lots of calls to bring in reinforcements before spring training next year, which brings us to an intriguing article by The Athletic.

Former MLB executive Jim Bowden has put together a list of the top 25 potential free agents for the coming offseason, and the one who should be of particular note to Mariners fans is Alex Bregman. Listed at No. 3 overall, the 31-year-old is expected to opt out of his current deal with the Boston Red Sox at the conclusion of this season.

Mariners make the short-list for Alex Bregman

Bowden selects the Red Sox as Bregman's first choice in free agency, but then lists the Mariners among several other contenders along with the likes of the Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies, Tigers and Mets. The question, though, is whether the M's really a feasible option for the three-time All-Star.

The initial instinct is to say no, with money arguably being the biggest barrier to getting Bregman, with him currently making $40 million this year and signed for two more seasons at the same rate. As Bowden notes, he's going to want a longer-term deal.

Are the Mariners really prepared to splash big money on a player who missed playing time in 2025 with a quad issue, and who is only likely to become more susceptible to injuries now he's in his 30s?

More reason to go against such a move comes from a piece by MLB.com's Daniel Kramer back in January, with him saying Bregman's hitting profile doesn’t align with T-Mobile Park compared to the Astros. Kramer also believes the fallout from the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal would not mesh well within a clubhouse that has become a division rival.

Despite all of these legitimate points against Bregman ending up in Seattle, let's at least play devil's advocate for a moment, beginning with the simple and undeniable truth the Mariners will be in the market for a third baseman. The position remains one of the biggest needs on the team as things stand.

Mariners' current third baseman options are lacking

Ben Williamson is an excellent defensive option at the position while laking the offensive pop, whereas Suárez has been in a funk since arriving in Seattle, recently turned 34 and will himself be a free agent after this season. Overall, the position has disappointed for the Mariners this year, with a 0.8 WAR which ranks 23rd and a .634 OPS which is even lower at 28th.

As for Bregman, he has dominated despite his aforementioned injury, with his .926 OPS and 154 OPS+ both set to be the second-best of his 10 years in the majors. He earned his third All-Star selection and if projected over the course of a full season, his 4.0 WAR would also be the second-highest of his career.

The 2024 Gold Glove Award winner's Baseball Savant page only further highlights his effectiveness. This includes being ranked in the 94th percentile for Batting Run Value and Chase%, along with the 92nd percentile for Whiff%.

Ultimately, we've been here before in suggesting the Mariners should make a move for Bregman, but still concede it's a long-shot when adding the age-old question about why any free agent hitter would choose to come to Seattle.

However, as long as respected voices like Bowden continue to link the M's to the 2019 Silver Slugger combined with their pending need for a third baseman, expect the speculation to continue.