Mariners should keep an eye on Jo Adell to hack Randy Arozarena opening

Mention Jo Adell around the Seattle area, and there's every chance this will be met by a grimace or a groan. Most Mariners fans remember his Superman-esque performance back in early April, when he became the first player in Major League history to rob three home runs in a single game. Now though, comes a potential scenario where the 27-year-old could actually help the good guys rather than sabotage them.

With Randy Arozarena all but gone, the Mariners needs to find reinforcements. (Aside from the fact he will make more than what the M's are likely prepared to offer in any long-term deal, it's been an ongoing open secret that he wants to move back to the East Coast.) And after looking at MLB Trade Rumors' top 40 trade candidates, Adell's name is one which stands out at No. 29.

The 2017 10th overall pick was traded to the Guardians at this year's trade deadline after previously spending his entire Major League career with the Angels. However, the thinking is that Cleveland will put him right back on the market instead of paying the projected $9.6 million for his final year of salary arbitration. Almost right away this makes him a bargain piece, especially compared to the $23.1 million qualifying offer which the Mariners have made to Arozarena for the 2027 season (but will be rejected).

We're not talking Randy Arozarena at the plate, but Jo Adell is still a power threat in his own way

We appreciate that Arozarena's offensive prowess and consistency will be a tough act to follow, but Adell does still offer some intriguing potential in his own right. He does have power and has hit 20 or more home runs in each of the past three seasons, including a career-high 37 just last year. Yes, he struggles versus right-handed pitching, but he destroy southpaws, as evidenced by a .288/.345/.591 slash line over his last 400 plate appearances.

Adding further intrigue, is what Addell achieved in 48 games following his Aug. 3 trade to Cleveland. Among other things, he more than doubled his walk-rate from 3.5% to 8.8%, while adding two mph in average exit velocity, from 89.8 to 91.8. The right-handed bat also learned to pull the ball like crazy to the left, which tends to be a gateway to power.

Turning to the (baby) elephant in the room, we understand that Adell has spent the majority of his career in right field and we don't want to rule this position out entirely. However, if the Mariners do want him to fill Arozarena's shoes in left field, one way to do this could be to platoon Adell with Luke Raley and/or Brendan Donovan. Even allowing for the possibility that Raley might leave and pending if Donovan can be healthier in 2027, just adding Adell alone ensures better defense than what Arozarena provided in the left corner.

To be clear, we're not suggesting Adell is an ideal solution, while also acknowledging it would depend on what the Guardians want in exchange for him. However, there's enough pros for us to contend that the Shelby, North Carolina native would be a strong addition to the roster. And who wouldn't prefer him in a Mariners roster and creating more positive memories than the ones previously made in Anaheim earlier this year?

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