The Seattle Mariners have made some early moves this offseason, but one of their biggest needs remains unsolved: adding another impact bat to the infield.
They got off to a strong start by locking in first baseman Josh Naylor, a key piece of their lineup. Then came a trade for left-handed reliever Jose Ferrer, followed by the addition of veteran outfielder Rob Refsnyder to bolster the bench.
But the search for a versatile infielder who can bring consistent offense? That’s still very much in progress.
Back in December, Seattle was reportedly one of the final contenders in trade talks for Brendan Donovan, the Cardinals’ ultra-versatile left-handed hitter who can handle both second and third base. But so far, St. Louis hasn’t pulled the trigger on a deal.
Now, with the offseason heating up-highlighted by the Chicago Cubs signing three-time All-Star Alex Bregman to a major deal-the Mariners might have a new opportunity on the trade front.
Here’s where things get interesting: with Bregman now taking over at third base in Chicago, the Cubs suddenly find themselves with an infield surplus. That could open the door for a move, and Seattle might be one of the teams ready to pounce.
MLB insider Jon Morosi pointed out that the Cubs may now be more inclined to move either Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw-two names that would certainly catch the Mariners’ attention.
Let’s break that down.
The Cubs’ infield is stacked. Michael Busch, who mashed 34 home runs last season, is penciled in at first.
Dansby Swanson, a two-time All-Star and one of the league’s premier shortstops, is locked in through 2029. Hoerner, a Gold Glove winner at second base, is coming off a strong season and has just one year of club control left.
Shaw, a promising young third baseman and former top prospect, is entering his second season. That’s a lot of talent-and not enough spots.
So, while the Cubs could opt to keep the group together for a deep postseason run, they may also see this as the right time to move a piece, especially Hoerner, before he hits free agency.
Seattle has been down this road before. They were reportedly in the mix for Hoerner last offseason and could be again. And according to Morosi, the fit is still there-maybe even more so now.
“I actually think a right side of the infield of Hoerner plus Naylor would be excellent,” Morosi said during an appearance on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob. “Let’s see how it plays out.”
There’s also the lingering Donovan angle. With Nolan Arenado now out of St.
Louis, the Cardinals may finally be in a position to move Donovan and shift focus toward other roster needs. Morosi suggested that the potential availability of Hoerner could even impact the asking price for Donovan, nudging trade talks forward that have otherwise stalled.
From a performance standpoint, Hoerner checks a lot of boxes for the Mariners. Last season, he slashed .297/.345/.394 with 29 doubles, seven home runs, 61 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases over 156 games.
He struck out just 7.6% of the time-third-lowest among qualified hitters-and his 14 outs above average at second base led the league. That’s elite-level defense paired with high-contact hitting and speed on the bases.
“He does some things with relation to contact, putting the ball in play, very good defender,” Morosi said. “Things that the Mariners value and have valued for a while are things that Nico Hoerner does exceptionally well.
He fits this team. In some ways, he fits this team at least as well as Donovan does, and maybe even better.”
And here’s the kicker: Hoerner might be the more affordable option in terms of trade capital. With just one year of club control remaining, he could come at a lower cost than Donovan, who still has more team control left.
For a Mariners team looking to take the next step-and do so without emptying the farm system-this could be the kind of move that walks the line between short-term impact and long-term flexibility.
There’s no guarantee a deal gets done. But with the infield market shifting and the Cubs’ roster dynamics changing post-Bregman, the Mariners might have a clearer path to addressing their biggest need. Whether it’s Hoerner, Donovan, or another name yet to surface, Seattle still has time-and options-to round out a roster that’s already taken some solid steps forward this winter.