With apologies for sounding like a broken record, the Seattle Mariners still need some quality help for their infield. However, as much as we've almost implored the organization to find a way to go after someone such as Alex Bregman or Pete Alonso, the reality is that it just isn't going to happen.
With apparently only around $15 million of spare payroll available to upgrade the roster — of which $3.5 million has already been spent on Donovan Solano — the Mariners' options are limited. However, there might well be a solution out there who has plenty of Major League experience and won't cost the world.
We're talking about Paul DeJong. He's still a free agent at the time of writing after splitting his time last season between the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals in 2024. We understand he won't sound like the most enticing of options to a lot of Mariners fans, but hear us out.
Seattle Mariners free agent target: Paul DeJong
The main thing that goes against DeJong is his penchant for striking out too much, which is certainly something the Mariners don't need any help with after leading the Majors last season with 1,625. He has a career 27.5% strikeout rate, but was particularly bad last season at 32.4%, including 37% percent after his trade deadline move from Chicago to Kansas City.
However, if you can get past this — and we know that's a big if — there are several things to like about the eight-year vet, with one of the keys being his defensive versatility thanks to his strong arm. While DeJong has spent the majority of his career at shortstop, he has also played at second base and added third base to his repertoire with some decent success last season
Offensively, critics can peruse the 31-year-old's career .229/.295/.419 slash line and point out how decidedly average it is. Additionally, that after totaling a .251/.318/.467 slash line through his first three seasons, it has since regressed.
However, DeJong experienced a renaissance of sorts last year, hitting 24 home runs with 56 RBI, which were both his most since his lone All-Star selection back in 2019. In general, he has always been renowned for having a decent power bat, but would need to navigate the dual threat of his strikeout rate and the pitcher-friendly confines of T-Mobile Park.
In respect to the financial implications, the Orlando, FL. native signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal last year and played for $720K in 2023. There's no denying that there's just as much to be concerned with as intrigued by when it comes to DeJong, but when you're playing with less money than some of your main competitors, you sometimes have to take gambles and just hope for the best.