Ranking 9 potential Seattle Mariners second baseman trade targets

I am tired of sitting here watching the Mariners' offense struggle. What is there to do to fix it? Well, not much really. The core group of guys really needs to get going, that is the single biggest issue and if guys like Julio, JP, and Cal can get going, this team could look a lot different. But that doesn't preclude Jerry Dipoto from going out and being aggressive in trying to spark this lineup. In fact, that is the exact type of thing that he should be doing, and from the sounds of it, that is something he is already exploring.

The second base position has been terrible for the Mariners for quite a few years and continues in 2024. Jorge Polanco has not been the savior that many Mariners fans thought that he would become. Ryan Bliss has shown some promise but relying on a 24-year-old who has just 26 major league games to his name, is really hard to do when you're looking to make a deep playoff run. That is why Dipoto needs to make a move, and soon, to help get this offense get back on track before it's too late.

Ranking the top 9 Mariners second base targets

Today we will look at the top nine second basemen that could theoretically be available, and rank them in order, considering the impact, financial cost, and prospect capital any deal would require.

No. 9: Brendan Rodgers

Rodgers is a very interesting name and seems like a move that Dipoto would make. The former number three overall pick was once a top prospect with an immense amount of upside. The dreams of his crazy athleticism and bat taking advantage of the thin Colorado air just haven't materalized.

Rodgers is enjoying one of his better seasons as a pro offensively. The 27-year-old is slashing .281/.322/.402 with five home runs. It's a 90 wRC+, but the lack of strikeouts (21.6%) would be nice to add to the Mariners lineup. Pair that with his Gold Glove caliber defense and Rodgers seems like a fairly solid addition.

The prospect capital wouldn't be that costly as Rodgers isn't one of the premier second basemen in the game. The Mariners need impact offensively, and while Rodgers is a solid player, he just doesn't provide that level of offense that this team needs right now.

No. 8: Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Isiah Kiner-Falefa seems like a guy that both Jerry Dipoto and Scott Servais would just absolutely love to have on this roster. "IKF" is a low strikeout rate guy (15.3% career rate) with a high average (.264 career average) and can play pretty much any position on the diamond. In his career, he has played every position except for first base.

Kiner-Falefa is enjoying a career year, and it could be the perfect time for the Mariners (and the Blue Jays for that matter) to capitalize on this. In 83 games this year, he is slashing .292/.338/.420 with seven home runs. He has a lower than career normal strikeout rate at 13.2% and by far his career-best 117 wRC+.

The 29-year-old is under control through next year at $7.5M and while many thought it seemed like a massive overpay, it looks to be a pretty solid deal for the Blue Jays. Acquiring IKF shouldn't be too expensive and could be a great value addition for Dipoto.

No. 5: Nico Hoerner

Nico Hoerner has seen his name pop up in rumors lately as the Chicago Cubs continue to slide further out of playoff contention (currently 5.5 GB of the NL WC). The Cubs will certainly entertain offers for a lot of their players and they have some very interesting names that make a lot of sense for the Mariners. Perhaps no one makes more sense for Seattle than the reigning Gold Glover.

Hoerner gives this team a lot of what it is missing, and what it tried to add this offseason, contact ability. A career .274 hitter, Hoerner is slumping a little bit in 2024, but over the last 15 games, has started to get back on track (.271/.343/.373). He won't hit for much power, but we know that shouldn't matter for the Mariners. Hoerner is a legit base stealer (43 in 2023) and an elite defender. Hoerner is also under club control through 2026 at a fairly club-friendly deal. All of this is to say that Hoerner is one of the better fits for the Mariners to explore over the next few weeks.

Hoerner offers a fairly high floor, but a relatively low ceiling. That's not to take anything away from him because he is a really good player. He would be more expensive to acquire than any of the previous names listed, in part due to his club control, but shouldn't be a painful addition.

No. 4: Jonathan India

Like Brandon Lowe, Jonathan India is a name that Mariners fans have grown familiar with. India found himself in discussions amongst MLB Insiders as a potential second base option for the Mariners as the Reds and Seattle made pretty solid trade partners.

India broke out in 2021 as an athletic, powerful second baseman. He slashed .269/.376/.459 with 21 home runs and 12 stolen bases en route to Rookie of the Year honors. He wasn't really able to replicate those numbers over the next couple of years but has rebounded to what could be his best year yet. In 84 games, India is slashing .270/.371/.403 with six home runs and eight stolen bases.

His 119 wRC+ would rank fifth in all of baseball, at his position, while his 12.2% walk rate would top all qualified second baseman. India isn't a great defender at second base and the Mariners could certainly do better, but offensively, it's hard to get much better than India. Pair all of that with the fact that India is under club control through 2026 and he would be a valuable asset for the Mariners and a massive improvement at the keystone.

Judging his trade cost is hard because he has been really good this year but is coming off of back-to-back average at best offensive years while being a subpar defender. Mariner's fans may be hesitant to acquire Cincinnati offense, but India's ability to control the zone and barrel the baseball, while not relying on power, should translate to Seattle.

No. 3: Luis Rengifo

Ironically, the Mariners actually signed Rengifo as a free agent in March of 2014 but was sent to the Rays and then to the Angels in a pair of trades. Rengifo is one of my personal favorites on this list and could really transform how this lineup goes about producing runs.

Rengifo has an impressive 126 wRC+, following up a really solid 114 wRC+ in 2023. He is slashing .315/.358/.442 with six home runs and 22 stolen bases. Rengifo would add a very high average, speedy second baseman who gets on base at a solid rate. He would slot in so well at the top of the Mariners lineup and would provide so much athleticism and speed that this lineup just doesn't have, setting up the middle of the order to drive in some runs.

Perhaps the biggest roadblock in a Rengifo deal is the fact that he is the American League West. The 27-year-old second baseman is only under control through next year, so the Angels could look to capitalize on a career year and limited market, but it could cost the Mariners a decent prospect haul. The Angels are a weird team and under the leadership of Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners and Angels have never completed a trade. It would be awesome to see that change and Rengifo wearing a Mariners jersey come August, but the odds don't seem great.

No. 2: Jazz Chisholm

Another name on this list that has been common amongst Mariner's circle is the uber-talented, Jazz Chisholm. While others may offer more certainty, there isn't a name on this list (other than the #1 player) that offers the superstar upside that Chisolm possesses.

Chisolm is a legit 5-tool player and would add some much-needed athleticism to a very uninspiring Mariners lineup. After struggling to stay healthy the last two years, Chisolm is in the midst of a major rebound year, slashing .255/.326/.407 with 10 home runs and 17 stolen bases. His 105 wRC+ doesn't point towards an elite bat, but the 25% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate show a more mature approach from the 26-year-old lefty.

Chisolm is currently a centerfielder but could move back to the infield dirt if the Mariners decide he is more valuable there. Chisolm's versatility, ability to hit for power, average and steal bases make him an ideal second baseman for a Mariners team desperate for production. Chisolm is currently a centerfielder but could move back to the dirt if the Mariners decide he is more valuable there.

Chisolm is under control through 2026 where he will be 28 and that coupled with his elite offensive traits could make him one of the most desirable names this trade deadline. The Marlins will likely target offense and that could mean guys like Tyler Locklear, Jonatan Clase, Michael Arroyo, Harry Ford, and a few other names are on the board for a Marlins team lacking talent pretty much everywhere.

No. 1: Ketel Marte

This might be cheating as the likelihood that Arizona decides the trade the best second baseman in the game is slim to none. However, if the Diamondbacks are looking to clear some payroll while rebuilding for the next few years, they could entertain offers if they are blown away by a deal; the Mariners are one of the few teams that has the firepower to make a blockbuster like this happen.

Marte fits this team to a T. The 30-year-old is the best second baseman in the game, hits for a high average, limits strikeouts and has really developed a lot of power. The switch-hitter is also a fast runner, but not necessarily a base steal, but who really cares when you hit as well as he does? He may be in the midst of his best season yet, slashing .283/.351/.506 with 18 home runs. Thats all good for a 136 wRC+ (tied for first among all qualified second basemen.

I doubt that Marte is really available as he is one of the best players in the game and under a very team-friendly deal, but one can dream, right? Acquiring Marte would be extremely expensive, but might be worth the cost. You would likely be parting with 3-4 top 10 prospects (maybe even more) or one of Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo and a few more top prospects.