Mariners should shoot their shot with offseason trade offer for Elly De La Cruz

Let's be honest. Even if the Mariners perform the miracle to end all miracles and make the playoffs, this is still a deeply flawed team. Dan Wilson is almost certainly out as manager, but the struggles this season extend far beyond just him. This is a roster which could use a huge reset/revamp, which should include making a move for someone like Elly De La Cruz.

It remains to be seen if Jerry Dipoto is back next season. (We suspect he will be.) However, if he does return, he needs to up his game with what will surely be his last chance to show he can get the job done in Seattle. And as much as we appreciate that going for De La Cruz might be a departure from the norm for Dipoto, he needs to be open to more adventurous approaches.

De La Cruz is already a star at just 24 and seemingly destined to only continue improving as he approaches his prime. This is the first time in three campaigns he wasn't selected as an All-Star, but he's having a career year which includes single-season highs of 27 home runs, a .874 OPS and 137 wRC+ and will soon have another high in bWAR. Throw in excellent defense at shortstop which is helped by a heat-seeking missile of an arm, and he makes for the type of five-tool player to serve as part of your core roster.

Certainly the Reds are well aware of De La Cruz's talent having MVP upside, which is why prior to this season they offered him an extension which would have been the largest contract in franchise history. (Surpassing Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million deal.) However, he turned it down and is instead making $800,000 this year under a renewed pre-arbitration deal. He has clearly decided to bet on himself, confident that he can earn more down the road.

Mariners need more star power with the Randy Arozarena experience set to end in Seattle

It's fair if people ask why the Mariners should go for De La Cruz, given how expensive he would be to retain, but that's a worry for another day. He still has three years of arbitration eligibility to go through, and it's imperative that if the M's are to take one lesson from this disastrous campaign, it should be to not waste another season of potential contention. They will more than likely need to replace Randy Arozarena with another third star to play alongside Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez, who we predict will both bounce back in 2027.

Some may assume the Reds have no intention of trading De La Cruz at this juncture. However, as per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, the front office was at least willing to listen to offers ahead of this year's trade deadline. The Red Sox in particular mostly offered prospects, but the Reds "would need a decent overpay that would include players close to the big leagues."

MacCaffrey does stress the Reds' preference is to keep De La Cruz, with them being well aware just how popular he is with the fanbase. Again though, the fact they even listened to offers for him in the first place is encouraging, and it must be in the back of their minds that he's represented by Scott Boras. Plus, hypothetically at least, the Mariners are in position to blow them away with an offer.

Do the M's have what it takes to make the kind of gamble which could divide the fanbase?

This would probably have to begin with someone such as Kade Anderson or Ryan Sloan and going from there, which we'll admit sounds like a non-starter. However, as much as the pitching duo are meant to represent the future of the rotation in Seattle, neither are guarantees at this stage. De La Cruz on the other hand, has already proven himself, plus it's not as of the Mariners don't have a strong history of finding and developing pitching talent.

Ultimately, we absolutely understand the odds of the Mariners making a play for De La Cruz are unappealing, especially with them believing they already have their long-term shortstop in Colt Emerson. However, for what it's worth, Emerson still has to prove himself, while also being capable of moving over to fill another need at third base.

With Dipoto set to make it just two playoff appearances in 11 seasons with the M's, he needs to think outside his usual parameters if he wants to stick around another 11 seasons. Pursuing De La Cruz might be just what he needs, to help get things back on track.

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