2023/2024 Mariners Offseason Trade Guide

27 player profiles, all with specific fit analysis towards the Seattle Mariners. Introducing by 2024 Seattle Mariners Offseason Trade Guide!

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There’s no question this offseason will be a pivotal one for the Seattle Mariners and their front office. This team fell short of a chance to compete for a ring, instead seeing the Texas Rangers celebrate in front of hundreds of thousands of crazed fans in Arlington yesterday.

If the Mariners want to bring a parade to Seattle they need to make some IMPACT offensive moves this offseason. That’s where my trade guide comes in.

I have spent the last month compiling impact players who I think could be moved this offseason, and put together a Mariners-specific trade guide to analyze these players and their fit with Seattle.

I will also be posting my free agent guide on Tuesday when players are officially free to sign and negotiate with teams. Hopefully, you enjoy this piece and please don’t forget to upgrade to a paid subscription! You will receive an autographed card with any MVP subscription.

Lars Nootbar

Lars Nootbar has become a popular name for Mariners fans to discuss over the last few player acquisition cycles. The 25-year-old outfielder has become an impact player on both sides of the ball and is also known as a terrific clubhouse presence.

One main reason why he is a fit here is because of the intuitive fit between the two clubs. Seattle needs young hitters and St. Louis needs young pitching, and the St. Louis roster is ready to compete outside of their pitching.

Nootbar is a good defender who can be a well-above-average corner outfielder who can handle center field. He is a good athlete who runs the bases well.

Offensively he may not have the ceiling of some of the other bats Seattle could acquire, but he is certainly a fit for what the Mariners should be looking for. A left-handed bat with plus contact skills, Nootbar posted a 118 wRC+ last season in 117 games for the Cardinals.

More importantly, he controls the zone very well. Nootbar posted a .367 OBP and a 19.7 K%. He has four years of club control remaining.

Fit: High

Christian Yelich

Christian Yelich is no longer the perennial MVP candidate he once was, but that doesn’t stop him from being one of the most perfect fits on this roster. Yelich is 31 years old and is under contract until 2029, a big reason why Seattle may not be interested.

A left-handed hitter, the outfielder posted a 122 wRC+ and a .278/.370/.447 slashline in 2023 for the Milwaukee Brewers. The bigger part of 2023 for Yelich was his ability to stay on the field, playing in at least 144 games for the second year in a row. Injuries slowed him down in 2020 and 2021, but he seems to have put any concerns behind him.

Yelich has walked at a 12 percent clip while striking out just over 21 percent of the time in his career. He is an excellent fit from a player and a clubhouse perspective, but it feels doubtful that Seattle would want to acquire his contract.

Fit: Medium

Christian Walker

Christian Walker is a player who I have liked for quite some time now, but his fit on the roster has been murky until Ty France’s 2023 struggles. Walker is a first base/DH type who could replace France if the Mariners decide to move on.

Walker is 32 years of age and has one year remaining on his contract. Walker is a right-handed power bat that has hit 69 home runs in the past two seasons.

While I prefer a left-handed bat, Walker is productive against both lefties and righties. He destroys left-handed pitching, posting a 175 WRC+ against Southpaws this season. The former Gold Glove award winner would immediately slide into the first base/DH rotation.

Walker also earns brownie points for his low strikeout rate and league-average walk rate. He is unlikely to get an extension because of his age, making the fit with Arizona questionable moving forward. Walker owns a career 108 WRC+.

Fit: Medium

Randy Arozarena

Arozarena is a 28-year-old outfielder coming off his third consecutive full season posting a 124 wRC+ or above. Seattle desperately needs to acquire multiple everyday bats this offseason, and one needs to be an All-Star caliber hitter in my opinion. Arozarena is a player that would both fit this billing and also may be available due to Tampa Bay’s unique methods of player development and acquisition.

The Cuban-born outfielder has postseason experience and has been at his best in October. Not only would he provide valuable postseason experience, he would add an impact bat that would give Julio Rodríguez some much-needed protection at the top of the order.

Seattle and Tampa match up pretty well in a deal because of their need for starting pitching. The Rays certainly don’t need to trade Randy, but if they do decide to trade him he would be at the top of my list of potential acquisitions. Arozarena has three years of club control remaining.

Fit: High