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Early 2024 Options at Second Base for the Mariners
Trade Option: Jonathan India
The Reds have told other teams they are willing to trade 2021 NL ROY Jonathan India for young, controllable starting pitching, per sources. Cincinnati has a glut of young infielders (Steer, De La Cruz, McLain, Encarnacion-Strand) with more on the way (Marte, Arroyo, Collier).
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 24, 2023
Whether India gets traded before the August 1 deadline or during the upcoming offseason, you have to think the Mariners will be one of the top teams interested. The Reds have a logjam in their infield with young infielders like De La Cruz, McLain, Steer, and Encarnacion-Strand. Don't forget the Reds two top prospects are Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo both infielders that the Mariners sent to the Reds in the Luis Castillo trade last year.
India has had a bounce back year this year and has shown why he was the NL Rookie of the year in 2021. This year India's slashline is .251/.338/.411, with 14 homeruns and 12 stolen bases. Mariners would get three years of India as he is not set to be a free agent until 2027. The Mariners and Reds matchup great because we have a plethora of pitching prospects that would interest the Reds.
Free Agency Option: Whit Merrifield
The Mariners are making a push to trade for INF/OF Whit Merrifield of the Royals, sources tell me and @DKramer_. Merrifield is under control through 2023 at a reasonable cost (approx. $10M over 2 years incl. ‘23 option) and offers positional versatility, a good bat & great speed.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 25, 2021
The Mariners have been linked to Whit Merrifield in the past as a trade option. Merrifield and the Blue Jays have a mutual option for 2024 for $18,000,000. I assume the Blue Jays will decline as Merrifield is not worth that much, making him a free agent. Merrifield will be 35 at the beginning of next season, if I were the Mariners I would only be comfortable signing him to a 1-2 year deal. Merrifield would be a stopgap until someone like Cole Young is ready to join the big league club. Merrifield in 2023 has been very serviceable with a slashline of .299/.351/.754 with an OPS+ of 112, and a 1.5 WAR . Merrifield has been an above average second baseman for the Blue Jays and would definitely be an upgrade over Wong.