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Early 2024 Options at Second Base for the Mariners
By Ryne Degroot
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.