Free Agency Option: Whit Merrifield
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.