Division Power Shift: Mariners Ready to Make Splash With Division-Rival’s Star Player
Once again, a Major League Baseball offseason has dawned, and the Seattle Mariners are trying to find some offense.
The Mariners led the American League West by 10 games in the late spring, but quickly lost their lead to the Houston Astros. A key reason for the collapse was that their offense was bottom-five in most offensive categories, marking yet another offseason failure by the Seattle front office.
This winter, Seattle simply cannot afford to miss. They need to bring in a superstar hitter who can handle the tough atmosphere of T-Mobile Park, and the cost shouldn’t matter if the fit is right.
One candidate for the Mariners has been a rival for nearly a decade–Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros. Steve Adams, Anthony Franco, Darragh McDonald, and Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors projected a seven-year, $182 million contract for Bregman, and Adams predicted he would sign with the Mariners.
“Whether a seven-year deal (or more) is there remains to be seen, but he should find offers of at least six years. Matt Chapman just signed a six-year, $151MM extension beginning in his age-32 season. That’s going to be viewed as something of a floor for Bregman, and he should top that as the younger and more consistent offensive player.”
“Re-signing Bregman would very likely require setting a new benchmark for the (Astros). It seems likelier that he’ll reject a qualifying offer and net them a draft pick… Bregman could see interest from the Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Tigers and Royals.”
Franco and McDonald both predicted that Bregman would return to the Astros, while Dierkes paired him with the youthful Detroit Tigers.
If Bregman can stay on his Hall of Fame trajectory for a few more seasons, he’ll be more than worth the money to the punchless Mariners. This doesn’t need to be a good offensive team to make the playoffs, but they’ve been a downright bad one for as long as most can recall.
Bregman is a winner by nature, and he’s a feisty competitor. Nabbing him from one of their chief rivals would be solid gamesmanship for these Mariners.
