MLB insider's free agent predictions suggest Mariners could go on spending spree

I'll start off by saying this. Until proven wrong, I'm going to always assume that the Mariners aren't going to spend money on hitters, and will instead just work trades or sign small one-year deals. Whether this is the owner being cheap, hitters not wanting to come here because the batter's eye is crooked, or some combination, it just hasn't happened in the past for the Mariners.

That being said... one can hope. I don't ever want to fully and completely believe that the team isn't going to spend money, cause that's just a sad and angry place to be. If the Mariners were to go after some of the top free agents in the upcoming free agent class, what could that look like?

Mark Feinsand sees the Mariners as a best fit for some of the top free agents

In his recently released lookahead to the top ten free agents in the upcoming offseason, Mark Feinsand lists out his top ten, but does more than that as he actually attaches a couple of teams that he sees as the best fit. We know the Mariners need offense, which is why you don't see their name attached to Blake Snell on there. What you do see is the Mariners attached to one of Snell's teammates, Matt Chapman.

This is a name that has floated around the hearts and minds of Mariners' fans for a while now. Chapman signed a three-year deal with the Giants, but it comes with a player opt-out after the first season. There seems to be some discrepency online when looking at what he signed vs how long he could stay on the Giants, but one thing is clear. Chapman already has a 5.6 WAR, and will be entering his age-32 season, and will be sure to be valued at more than $18M AAV a season, triggering his opt-out.

If and when he does opt-out, could the Mariners spend the needed money and give him a 4YR/$100M contract? That would probably be in the right neighborhood, and high enough to be defensible and worth it to get him in a Mariners' uniform.

The other name on the list that he ties the Mariners to is a name that we are much more familiar with, if only from seeing him come to the plate against the Mariners so often over the last decade. Alex Bregman is going to be a free agent as well, and there is a chance that he tests the market instead of going back to Houston.

Now, if things go sour when he talks to Houston, or they lowball him, it could further drive him to sign with a division rival. Goes along with the thought process of "I'll show them". Could that be the Mariners in? Signing away a foundational piece and cornerstone of your rivals success over the last decade could be massive for the Mariners, especially at a position that they have struggled with since Seager left.

The bigger question is, could the Mariners go after both of those players? It's quite unlikely, especially with Mitch Haniger and Mitch Garver still on the team and taking up a healthy amount of money. Also, they both play third, but maybe you move one to first or DH if you really want both of them. To go after one of them though, that could happen, especially when you look at the flotsam that the Mariners are putting out there on a daily basis.

The Mariners need offense, and it's never too soon to think about who they could go after. If they are finally able to make a splash in free agency and bring a hitter to the team that way, I think we would all be happy to see either one of those third baseman end up on the team.