Mariners Rumors: Seattle has no good answers for impossible infield problem

The Seattle Mariners are in bad shape. That’s not just about their slow start and position in the standings, but also a roster that’s unraveling at the seams. A team built on pitching and defense is now scrambling for answers on both sides of the diamond, and the growing injury list is threatening to turn early-season adversity into long-term disaster.

Seattle was already shaky offensively, but losing both Victor Robles and Ryan Bliss for extended stretches has pushed what was already thin depth past its breaking point. Robles is expected to miss around three months, which thins out the outfield. Another gut punch came with the news that Bliss, who had just begun to settle into a key defensive role, is now expected to miss at least four to five months. His absence leaves a massive hole in the infield, where the Mariners had few answers to begin with.

Bliss had earned his way onto the roster with exceptional glove work and surprising pop at the plate in the early going. He wasn’t expected to carry the lineup, but he brought promise to a second base spot that had been a revolving door. With him gone, the Mariners are left patching together infield solutions with duct tape, chewing gum, and hope.

Luke Raley, once envisioned as a first base option, has now been forced into regular outfield duty with Robles sidelined. That pushes Rowdy Tellez and Donovan Solano into a platoon at first base — a stopgap situation that hasn’t inspired much confidence at the plate so far. Tyler Locklear, once a promising candidate, hasn’t shown enough consistency at Triple-A to merit a return to the big-league roster.

Third base remains another area of concern. Jorge Polanco is still being treated cautiously coming off knee surgery and doesn’t appear to be a real defensive asset anytime soon. That leaves the hot corner in the hands of Dylan Moore and Miles Mastrobuoni.

With Bliss out and their farm still in development, the Mariners are running out of options

And then there’s second base — a glaring vacancy that now also pits Mastrobuoni and Leo Rivas as the best internal candidates. Both are serviceable defenders, but neither has done enough with the bat to solidify a regular role. It begs the question: What about Cole Young?

Young, the Mariners’ top infield prospect, would seem like the natural call-up. But according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, the team has no plans to rush the 21-year-old. The organization remains committed to his development and doesn't want to compromise his long-term potential for a short-term fix — no matter how urgent the need may feel right now.

That brings us to Ben Williamson as the more realistic next-man-up. The 24-year-old has been flashing Gold Glove-caliber defense in Tacoma and is three years older than Young. Offensively, he’s off to a slow start in Triple-A, hitting a solid .286 but slugging just .347, but the glove might be enough to get him a look considering the alternatives. He may not be the spark the lineup needs, but his presence could at least stabilize one side of the infield.

Externally, options are even more grim. Teams around the league are still figuring out their own rosters, and nobody is in a hurry to part with a reliable, major league-ready infielder this early in the season. That leaves Seattle sifting through the waiver wire or kicking the tires on minor league veterans — none of which represent a meaningful upgrade over what they already have. If they can’t find someone who clearly surpasses Mastrobuoni or Rivas, then why make a move at all?

Long story short: the Mariners are stuck on the infield. Bliss’s injury has put them in a difficult position with no clear path forward. Internal options are either underdeveloped or underwhelming, and external reinforcements aren’t really available. Unless someone emerges from the farm system or a breakout occurs at the big-league level, this infield puzzle won’t be solved anytime soon.

Expect the Mariners to grit it out in the short term — but don’t be surprised if desperation leads to far more aggressive trade talks as the deadline approaches. Because unless something changes soon, the lineup and the standings could trend in the wrong direction.