3 Options for the Mariners at 3rd Base if Luis Urias is Hurt

While the vibes have been high and the team has looked impressive so far in the early stages of spring training, not all is well in Peoria. On Tuesday, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (paywall) wrote about some of the injuries that have popped up this spring already. While the potential injury result of rising star reliever Matt Brash could have the biggest impact on the team, the issues with winter acquisition Luis Urías could be the most disappointing.

Urías, a potential star infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers as recently as 2021 and arguably even in 2022, was acquired by the Mariners after a rough go in 2023 that saw him split time between the Brewers and Red Sox. Hoping to bounce back at only 26 years old and in a platoon role at 3B, a shoulder injury has Urías looking like a lock to enter the season on the IL. To add more salt to the wound, it was reported by Divish that Urías showed up to Spring Training in “less-than-stellar shape” after a pretty lackluster performance this winter in the Mexican Pacific Winter League.

For a guy whose once-promising career appears on the brink, this is a pretty brutal double whammy for Urías. It's hard to fathom him being healthy enough to make the necessary throws from 3rd base, which could have major repercussions on Seattle's lineup and defense going into a make-or-break season. 

With that said, here are 3 options at 3B, considering the Luis Urías news.

Option #1: Trust in Josh Rojas & in-house vets

In what is arguably the most boring option, giving Josh Rojas and the in-house company control is the most likely scenario. Urías does still have an option left, so Seattle could let him get healthy and in shape while down in Tacoma, forcing him to earn his way back. It might not matter all that much if Seattle gets the Josh Rojas they acquired last summer.

Added along with Dom Canzone and Ryan Bliss in the Paul Sewald trade, Rojas was having a nightmarish season (62 OPS+) before a resurgence in his final 46 games in Seattle (103 OPS+). He will never provide the power or defense that Eugenio Suarez brought to the ballpark the past two seasons, but Rojas should be a more consistent contact hitter who provides speed, versatility, and energy to this roster. As the left-handed side of a 3B platoon, the Mariners could do much worse if the Seattle version of Rojas is here to stay.

As for his platoon counterpart, expect to see a trio of players battle for the opportunity that appears open at third. Dylan Moore is paid and expected to be a valuable utility piece to this ball club in 2024, but health, inconsistencies, and not a ton of 3B experience in the past few years are a concern. Michael Chavis is 3rd baseman/utility infielder who has struggled offensively in the bigs but has had a solid start to spring. The third challenger should be Samad Taylor, who comes over in a trade with KC. Known more as a major speed threat who can play multiple positions, Taylor has shown some real power early on in Peoria.

Option #3: Take a leap of faith, sign Matt Cha...

While Bliss, Locklear, and Young have looked tremendous so far, it's important to remember that they are still in the infancy stages of their careers, and have combined for just 23 ABs in Spring Training so far. Jerry Dipoto, love him or hate him, has built a team that has been successful the past three seasons, and they are close to breaking through. He also has stated countless times he wants to be a consistent winner, much like the Braves and Dodgers.

By not rushing guys like Young, Locklear, and Bliss, you're putting them in a better position to succeed, even if there's a real chance they are ready early. In our third option, we push for the Mariners to protect their prospects and future, instead, bringing Matt Chapman to Seattle... at least that was the case when originally writing this article.

SoDo Mojo has done a fantastic job of breaking down the pros and cons of signing Matt Chapman, but it's important to understand the context now that we're in the 9th inning of the free agency period. First, Urías has forced the team's hand. Even with his triple yesterday, he's not going to play DH and he can't even throw more than 70 feet right now. 

Lastly, this team is so close, they may already be there. When the offseason started, many thought that the Mariners needed to make huge splashes to have a chance to make a run. The Mariners are going to need to go out and do something at third base, otherwise they risk starting the seasons behind the proverbial eight-ball before it even starts.