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3 right handed hitting outfielders for Mariners to go after at the trade deadline

We all know the Mariners are struggling to score runs. Here are 3 options for a right handed bat they could go after at the trade deadline

Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays v Minnesota Twins
Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays v Minnesota Twins | David Berding/GettyImages
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The Mariners' .209 team batting average against left-handed pitching is easily the worst in Major League ball. The 29th-ranked Cardinals are hitting .217, while the 2nd-worst mark in the American League belongs to the Oakland A’s, at .224. For context that’s the same difference between Kirby Puckett (.318) and Robbie Cano at .301. JP is hitting .288 and Julio sits at .278 vs lefties, but every other everyday player is quite south of those numbers. Mitch is hitting .154, while Cal is hitting .123 in 76 PA vs left handed pitching in 2024.

For today, we are sticking with outfielders available on the market. To me, the most logical and realistic path is to acquire a corner outfielder who can hit left-handed pitching. That’s one of the more obvious holes, if not the most, on this M’s roster. They won’t be able to make a deep postseason run if they can’t score three runs when they face Garrett Crochet or Tarik Skubal.

#3 - Randal Grichuk, Arizona Diamondbacks

Grichuk would easily cost the least of the three guys on my list today. For one, he’s really a power platoon bat, hitting .319/.379/.544 vs LHP since the start of 2023. He’s paired with Joc Pederson in Arizona, which is a nice complimentary hit. Joc’s having a great year too, but unfortunately, the Snakes are not. This team could very well be selling and the Mariners should be interested in Grichuk. Being able to plug Randal in behind JP and Julio would add depth in this lineup, and provide punch from the right side that Mitch Haniger has been unable to demonstrate.

Grichuk has a career .822 OPS vs LHP, with only a .735 vs righties. He’s on a one year, $2M prove it deal with Arizona, and they’re sitting 3.0 GB from a Wild Card seed right now. It’s possible they hold, but a slide would likely render them as sellers. If Mike Hazen is selling on July 30th, Grichuk likely wouldn’t cost for a project prospect, since you’re ultimately getting a part-time corner outfielder for two months or so. For a comparable deal, look at when the Mets shipped Tommy to Arizona for scratch ticket Jeremy Rodriguez in the 2023 deadline.

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