MLB.com prediction has Mariners signing Yankees free agent to address infield

The Seattle Mariners have struggled to find a consistently impactful presence at second base for years. With its current roster, the lineup is severely lacking in almost all of the infield positions, but second base may be the most difficult position to fill this offseason.

With the Mariners as a possible contender for a top free agent third baseman and mentioned in the running for one of the most sought-after options at first base, the selection of second basemen is considerably less appealing. Of the current players available, only three had more than a 1 WAR, and one of them was Jorge Polanco, the player that the Mariners are actively trying to replace.

Luckily, there's a chance they still get their hands on a solid option in the form of Gleyber Torres. In a list of free agent destination predictions, the Mariners were MLB.com's No. 1 option. He hasn't been the most consistent middle infielder in the world, but he has some intriguing upside.

Although he posted a league-average OPS+ of 101, he excelled in a few specific areas. First, he was great against left-handed pitching, posting an .811 OPS. Second, he seemed to pick up steam as the season went on, finishing with a cumulative .859 OPS in the final month of the season and finding decent success in the playoffs.

Mariners Rumors: Gleyber Torres could be Seattle's top second base option in free agency

Historically, he tends to have average-to-good plate discipline numbers — something many Mariners can't claim themselves — and has always put up a respectable launch angle sweet spot rate. Despite a lack of power that is typical for second basemen, he's still capable of hitting 20+ homers and 20+ doubles as he has done in two of the past three years.

Defensively, he's one of the worst options out there. He has had negative Defensive Runs Saved in every year of his career except for two (and tied his career worst with -11 DRS in 2024). Thus, one must wonder whether his perceived offensive improvement is enough to compensate for a player profile with so many holes.

In addition to his positive qualities on the field, another possible incentive for Seattle to get a deal done with Torres could be his anticipated price. MLBTradeRumors predicted a two-year, $36 million contract for Torres, relatively cheap compared to the anticipated nine-figure deals for the most prized assets at the top of the list.

Given the disappointing results of the Mitch Garver contract ($24 million over two years), the front office may be more wary about committing to a similar deal, but Torres is much younger, will be more than just a designated hitter, and has a much better track record.

If a deal does get done, it's unrealistic to expect him to be the sole savior of the team's 2025 season. More pieces will be needed for this lineup to really be considered competitive. However, it would (hopefully) solve one of the team's most glaring weaknesses and round out what could be a throughly exciting roster.