Trades or Free Agents?

Seattle has consistently chosen trade acquisitions over free agents since Jerry Dipoto's tenure started. How should they approach it for the remainder of this offseason? Let's take a look.

Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander have been very consistent in their messaging since the acquisition of Kolten Wong. They see free agency as a method of augmenting the roster, not a way to build it. They have expressed their needs very publicly to this point.

The explicit needs are things that are hard to find on the open market. Seattle needs a player who can play the corner infield spots plus an outfielder. They would like the corner infielder to also play the outfield spots or for the outfielder to be a right-handed bat to protect guys like Jarred Kelenic, Taylor Trammell, and Cade Marlowe.

With Masataka Yoshida signing that leaves players like Andrew Benintendi and Brandon Nimmo as the few impact options on the market. The fact that Seattle covets a right-handed bat complicates their situation because an impact player that fits their standards doesn’t seem to exist on the market.

Dipoto complicated his comments by saying that he would be “shocked” if the team didn’t sign a free agent this offseason. This player could come in the form of a corner infielder/outfielder, a corner outfielder, or a reliever. In my opinion, the best use of Seattle’s resources at this point is to sign a Wil Myers type to play 1B/OF, while also signing Benintendi or Nimmo to play left field.

They could also opt to trade for a player like Yandy Diaz or other options to fill this corner spot. It is clear Seattle is looking for two specific types of players to fill out this roster, and they do not view the use of free agent dollars as a viable solution to fix this.

Nimmo and Benintendi are likely the only two bats left on the market that could be impactful. These players will likely get decent money on the open market, but the years committed would likely scare Seattle away.

This leaves the trade market as the option for Seattle to make an upgrade. Bryan Reynolds and Randy Arozarena are two names that I have mentioned that Seattle is likely interested in. Reynolds is the easiest player to assume Seattle is in on right now. He fits exactly what the Mariners need and they have highly coveted him in the past.

With the corner outfield market dwindling, Seattle may be forced to pay a high price to acquire either one of these impact bats. Unless Pittsburgh or Tampa Bay is in love with Emerson Hancock or Bryce Miller, it will be hard to lure one of these teams into making a deal that doesn’t include Matt Brash.

Ultimately Seattle is likely not going to use their free agent dollars to do anything this offseason. This decision has layers to it, but ultimately Dipoto and the front office are saving these dollars to keep their homegrown players down the road like Cal Raleigh, George Kirby and Logan Gilbert.

This approach takes patience from the fanbase. The final product of this roster isn’t going to be decided in December, it will be who they add by the time Opening Day rolls around.

While free agency seems like an easy fix for their left-field hole, Seattle is likely engaged in trade talks right now to try and upgrade the roster. Neither route is inherently better or worse, but a trade for a big upgrade could cost Seattle big time in the long run.

Patience will be needed. The Mariners want to improve this roster in a meaningful way, it remains to be seen how they will try to do this and what they will have to give up to make it happen.