Now that one of the more disappointing weeks in Seattle Mariners history has passed, the M's fanbase now gets to enjoy watching both of our Lone Star rivals battle it out for the American League championship…oof.
If it wasn't clear during the Mariners collapse in September, it should be clear now. Jerry Dipoto’s “Draft, Develop & Trade” philosophy needs a reboot. It is time to look ahead to how the Seattle Mariners can finally be a player in free agency. While this class is not as deep as the past two years (when Seattle did nothing), there is still elite talent and realistic paths for Seattle to make the leap in 2024.
Without further ado, here are the top 30 MLB free agents that I believe are potential fits with the Seattle Mariners. Any financial average annual value (AAV) that you see are the most recent projections from Spotrac. Let's dive in and see what and where we can look to get better in 2024.
Mariners 2023/24 FA Rankings: #28-30
#30: Jack Flaherty, SP Baltimore Orioles, $11 AAV
A few years ago, Flaherty was the next great baseball Ace. Injuries and command issues have prevented him from reaching his elite ceiling, but he could be a perfect reclamation project for Seattle.
#29: Joe Kelly, RP LA Dodgers, $4.4 AAV
I don't know what it is about Kelly, but he seems to be a below average reliever on any team not named the Dodgers, but turns into an elite bullpen weapon in Los Angeles. It'd be fascinating to see this phenomenon put to the test in Seattle, where bullpen arms become bullpen weapons consistently.
#28: Tim Anderson, 2B/SS Chicago White Sox, $5 AAV
The former batting champ had the season from hell in Chicago, culminating in his embarrassing knockout by Jose Ramirez. If Ryan Bliss is not ready to be promoted, Anderson is an interesting buy low candidate at 2B in a potentially strong platoon with Josh Rojas. Could a change of scenery reignite Anderson's career?