Looking to upgrade, here are 4 Corner Infielders for the Mariners to Pursue in Free Agency

In 2022, Ty France and Eugenio Suarez were two of the best members of a breakout Mariners team that made it to the ALDS after a 20-year postseason drought. Ty France slashed .274/.338/.436 and received his first-ever all-star nod. Suarez posted a .791 OPS (129 OPS+) and had some magical moments that included a walk-off home run against the Atlanta Braves to keep up the end-of-season momentum.

But this year was different. Both guys hit right around league-average (Ty France - 99 OPS+, Eugenio Suarez 101 OPS+) and were generally less-impressive than the year prior. Suarez improved significantly as a fielder, keeping his rWAR at a reasonable 2.2, but France's rWAR of 0.7 was significantly lower than that of his other two seasons with the Mariners.

Assuming the Mariners want to explore the current free agent market, finding offensive upgrades at the infield corners could be their first item on their grocery list, so let's take a look at who's available.

Mariners upgrade #2 - Jeimer Candelario (3B)

How one evaluates Jeimer Candelario largely depends on how much emphasis is placed on his short stint with the Chicago Cubs. A slash line of .234/.318/.445 over 157 plate appearances is somewhat underwhelming but it's important to recognize that he spent most of the season with the Nationals where he posted an improved .258/.342/.481 over 419 plate appearances.

Like Bell, Candelario is more of a well-rounded hitter than a one-dimensional threat. Most importantly, he struck out at a 22% clip this past season, significantly lower than Eugenio Suarez's strikeout rate of 30.8% in 2023. He also serves as a switch-hitter and is capable of sending the ball to all parts of the field.

Candelario isn't the most impressive defender the hot corner has ever seen and would likely end up being a fielding downgrade from Suarez but given the talent of the Mariners pitching staff, it's like they would prefer more run support over more defense. Candelario fits the bill and is an unrestricted free agent.

Mariners upgrade #3 - Rhys Hoskins (1B)

Rhys Hoskins did not play in 2023 after tearing his ACL in spring training. However, he's been a remarkably consistent hitter since making his major league debut in 2017 and posted an OPS of .794 (123 OPS+) in 2022. A spark plug for an always dangerous Phillies team, his bat would be a valuable addition to any lineup, especially Seattle's.

Hoskins doesn't quite hit for average but makes up for it with exceptional power. His 2022 average exit velocity of 90.1 mph (72nd percentile) and xSLG of .445 (78th percentile) would undoubtedly add some thump. Commonly cited as a positive clubhouse presence, he also has the ability to offer intangible value in addition to his contributions at the plate.

A factor that increases the likelihood of Hoskins departing Philadelphia is the current situation with Bryce Harper occupying first base while he recovers from his Tommy John surgery. With Kyle Schwarber also filling in as DH, the Phillies may be reluctant to sign Hoskins due to the crowded depth chart for those two roles. Could Seattle be his next destination?

Mariners Upgrade #4 - Matt Chapman (3B)

Matt Chapman's performance to the All-Star break was exceptional. He had an .807 OPS and was an extremely effective defender as per usual. He regressed significantly in the second half, posting a .663 OPS but it's clear that he's got the tools needed to find the magic again.

He doesn't look like it, but Chapman is one of the hardest-hitting players in the sport. His average exit velocity (93.4 mph), barrel % (17.1%), and hard-hit % (56.4%) are all in the 98th percentile or higher. Specifically, his hard-hit rate was second only to Aaron Judge, beating out key names like Matt Olson and Juan Soto.

Unlike the other names on this list, Chapman also has immense defensive value. He posted five OAA and 12 DRS, the usual fielding numbers for a two-time platinum glove winner, and is also nominated for a gold glove this year.

He's ranked as the third-best free agent this offseason by MLB, behind just Cody Bellinger and Shohei Ohtani. However, it's reported that the Yankees and Mets are currently interested in him so if the Mariners want to make a move, they'd better make it fast.