Seattle, WA
Morosi: Why Mariners will be patient with addressing middle infield
Because the MLB offseason rolls alongside, an enormous query in Seattle is what the Mariners will do with the center of their infield.
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J.P. Crawford is beneath contract by way of 2026, however there’s a query of whether or not he sticks at shortstop for the 2023 season and past because the Mariners are reportedly checking in on four All-Star shortstops currently on the open market – Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts, Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson. All 4 are big-name stars and have World Sequence rings to their identify. Including a kind of 4 to the combination might imply Crawford slides over to second base.
However the Mariners are additionally reportedly checking in on the commerce marketplace for a second baseman, with Joel Sherman of the New York Submit reporting Seattle reached out to the Yankees about Gleyber Torres. That got here shortly after MLB Community’s Jon Morosi reported the Mariners called the Milwaukee Brewers about Kolten Wong.
Talking of Morosi, he joined Seattle Sports activities 710 AM’s Wyman and Bob on Monday for his weekly Mariners dialog and he shared his ideas and perception into Seattle’s offseason quest so as to add to the center of its infield.
Merely put, Morosi expects the Mariners so as to add a notable identify to their infield subsequent season, be it commerce or free company.
“I feel that the Mariners will get a center infielder,” he mentioned.
Seattle is one in all plenty of groups seen as a very good match for the large 4 free-agent shortstops, and given these gamers have sturdy markets, it doesn’t appear possible any will signal within the close to future. Which means if the Mariners actually need one in all Correa, Bogaerts, Turner or Swanson, they’ll should be affected person. Morosi thinks they need to be and shall be.
“I feel the Mariners shall be a bit of bit affected person right here and wait and see how the shortstop market performs out,” he mentioned. “In different phrases, if Trea Turner is admittedly out there and actually desires to come back to Seattle, or Xander Bogaerts is admittedly an possibility, see that course of out till the tip.”
If Seattle will get a “no” from all 4 shortstops, then the Mariners can pivot to gamers like Wong and Torres in the event that they’re nonetheless out there. And people two might not be the one center infielders out there through commerce.
“There are going to be some commerce suits and potentialities on the market for you,” Morosi mentioned. “And to me, sure, you may miss out. Perhaps a crew steps up and trades for Wong or for Torres and also you miss out on the chance. If I’m the Mariners, I’d be OK with that.”
“As a result of whereas I consider that each of these guys might provide you with probably greater than what you bought from (second baseman Adam Frazier) this previous 12 months, the chances on the upside with Bogaerts and even Swanson – clearly (that might) probably transfer J.P. Crawford to second base – however these gamers are price ready for if you will get them. They are surely,” Morosi added.
An enormous a part of the Mariners’ future is competing with and overtaking the Houston Astros in each the American League West and the American League basically. The Astros gained the 2022 World Sequence and swept the Mariners within the ALDS alongside the best way.
Including a kind of shortstops to the combination on high of the commerce for All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernández would go a great distance in surpassing the Astros, who Morosi thinks possible lose Cy Younger winner Justin Verlander this offseason.
“For those who’re a Mariners crew that claims OK, let’s roll this collection again in opposition to Houston one 12 months later and the Astros have misplaced Verlander … and the Mariners have added Teoscar plus (one in all Swanson, Bogaerts, Turner or Correa), then rapidly I feel a Mariners fan says, ‘Hey, we’re proper there with Houston if that’s the case,’” he mentioned. “And when you miss on these 4, that’s OK (as a result of) you continue to have a pleasant provide of gamers out there to you want Wong and Torres, and I consider they’ll get a top quality second baseman.
“The ground of what they’re gonna have at second base is kind of excessive, and it has an opportunity to be actually excessive in the event that they discover themselves within the bidding for one in all these shortstops. And (if) they wish to come to Seattle and it’s an awesome match, signal that participant, transfer J.P. to second and you then really feel actually good about your probabilities to compete head-to-head with the Astros.”
Take heed to the complete dialog between Morosi and Bob Stelton and visitor host Robert Turbin at this hyperlink or within the participant beneath.
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