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With Josh Rojas and Luis Urias not expected to return next season, the Seattle Mariners are looking to find a new starting third baseman with more offensive prowess. While Rojas was a solid defender at third, his .304 OBP and 91 OPS+ left much to be desired in a stagnant lineup. Urias was also unspectacular at the plate, as he hit 191/.303/.394 in 41 games with the Mariners.
Given the current market, the Mariners might want to cash in on a free agent at third base if they're willing to go the extra mile.
Who might the Mariners choose to take over at the hot corner in 2025? Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report listed Seattle as an option for an AL West rival who just hit free agency this offseason.
Mariners Rumors: Alex Bregman emerges as candidate to fill third base
Bregman is coming off his third straight season of 4+ bWAR with the Houston Astros. Despite posting his lowest OBP mark since his rookie year in 2016, Bregman produced an OPS+ over 100, which he has done each season in the big leagues. He is the massive offensive upgrade the Mariners need at the third base position.
Defensively, Bregman is very good, as shown with his first career Gold Glove after he accrued a 1.0 dWAR. Last season, Bregman registered the most putouts by an MLB third baseman with 103 and accumulated six Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) in 142 games.
Houston has been active ithis offseason by trading All-Star Kyle Tucker and signing Christian Walker. With regard to Bregman, Houston reportedly does not want to give him a contract over six years. According to Jeff Passan, Bregman’s time in Houston is all but over.
The Houston Astros have traded their best player, Kyle Tucker, and are letting go of Alex Bregman, who has the most WAR for them since his first full season in 2017. In the meantime, they will pay first basemen Christian Walker and José Abreu a combined $39.5 million in 2025.…
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 20, 2024
If the Mariners are to acquire Bregman, they must match his contract demands. Reuter reports that Bregman is seeking a contract in the $200 million range. As we saw two years ago with Julio Rodriguez, the Mariners will sometimes push the envelope, but only when they deem appropriate. Does an aging Bregman fall under that category? It's hard to say, and fans would probably determine the answer to be "no."
By signing Bregman, the Mariners would be getting a balanced veteran player who can instantly contribute to a lineup that underperformed in 2024. But are they willing to go to great lengths and out-bid their hated division rival in addition to a number of other big-name suitors?