Mariners writer connects Seattle to potential impact trade with Dodgers in offseason

The Mariners need a bat, badly. Seattle was a middle-of-the-road ball club in the American League when it came to home runs and on-base percentage in 2024, which is not enough in order for them to be a playoff contender.

The M's missed out on the postseason again and you cannot help but think where they may have been if they added one more competent hitter to their lineup. As the offseason dramatics begin to ramp up, one reporter for The Seattle Times threw out an intriguing potential deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Could it work? Does it make sense?

Mariners Rumors: Could Seattle make a trade for Dodgers slugger Max Muncy?

The Mariners are not very interested in trading their star starting pitchers, but a deal good enough to land them a consistent hitter may change their mind on that front. Max Muncy could be the player who alters Jerry Dipoto's mindset in rebuilding the Mariners.

Seattle's infield was one of the worst offensively in 2024, so keeping a guy like Muncy in their offseason discussions, if the Dodgers are actually open to making such a move, should be considered.

Muncy, 34, has been with the Dodgers since 2018 and has marched to four 35-plus home run seasons in Los Angeles. When he is healthy, Muncy is one of the best power-hitting infielders in the sport, and it also helps he slugs from the left side of the plate.

In 2024, Muncy 15 home runs and 17 doubles in 73 games after missing three months due to an oblique injury. He was tremendous in August and September in his return, tallying on-base percentages of .457 and .385 in the final two months of the regular season. He finished with a .358 overall OBP, which would have been the second-best on the Mariners (among players with at least 60 games played).

The Mariners' goal is to get to the postseason, which Muncy has plenty of experience playing in. He dons a career. 376 OBP in the playoffs across 49 games (entering Oct. 9). He has gone deep 11 times, including once in the NLDS this year against the Padres.

If Seattle wants to attain an experienced and disciplined slugger to push them over the hump and clinch a playoff berth, they may need to trade one starter. Muncy can definitely help an inexperienced Mariners team make the postseason and contribute if they make it to that point. It's definitely something worth mulling over if you are Jerry Dipoto.

The good news here is that Muncy might not command a controllable starting pitcher. He's signed through 2025 with a $14.5 million salary and has a $10 million club option for 2026. Given the short-term status of his deal, it might help the Mariners from a payroll and trade value standpoint.