With the trade deadline creeping closer, the Mariners are still operating like buyers even with a losing record, and the search for a right-handed bat that can handle lefties has become one of the clearest needs on the board. If Seattle wants to solve more than one problem at once, Cardinals All-Star Iván Herrera looks like a name worth circling.
ESPN’s updated deadline tracker on Wednesday added some fresh intrigue around St. Louis.
Jorge Castillo reported that the Cardinals are willing to hear offers on anyone on their big league roster except Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt. That list apparently includes Herrera, the designated hitter/catcher who could fit Seattle in a way few available bats can.
The appeal starts behind the plate. Cal Raleigh has had a horrendous year and remains a negative bWAR player, while Mitch Garver has done little to build confidence as the backup.
Herrera would be a clear upgrade over Garver and could give Raleigh more time away from the crouch. It would also open up more at-bats in right field for Dominic Canzone.
Herrera’s production gives the case even more weight. Over the last three seasons, he’s been a steady force for St.
Louis, posting a 125 OPS+ and 126 wRC+. This year, he’s also doing damage against left-handed pitching, where he owns a .829 OPS - a major point for a Mariners team that has struggled in that split.
And this isn’t just a one-year spike; Herrera has a career .874 OPS against southpaws.
There’s also the fit question, and that’s where Herrera may have the edge over another name Mariners fans are already talking about: Hunter Goodman. The Rockies’ two-time All-Star makes sense on paper, and Zac Hereth of Seattle Sports has already laid out the case for him. But Goodman would come at an “elite catcher” price even if Seattle mostly used him as a DH.
Herrera is cleaner from a roster-building standpoint. He already splits time as a catcher and DH, and his contract is about as team-friendly as it gets.
He’s making $798,800 this season and won’t hit free agency until 2030. For a 26-year-old with an All-Star nod and a track record against lefties, that’s a lot to like.
The only real complication may be competition. The Yankees and Red Sox are also reportedly interested in Herrera, which raises the stakes for Seattle.
Still, that shouldn’t scare off Jerry Dipoto, especially with a strong farm system available to use in a deal. The Mariners also have a built-in connection with St.
Louis after the offseason trade for Brendan Donovan, which could help if Seattle decides Herrera is the bat to chase.
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