The Mariners have a simple question to answer on Si-Hwan Roh: can he really stay at third base?
That’s where the whole idea lives or dies. Seattle can use the bat - Roh put up 29 home runs and a .505 slugging percentage - but the fit only makes sense if the glove works too.
If the Mariners think he can handle third every day, he becomes a rare kind of target: a power bat who also fills a position of need. If not, the conversation gets a lot shorter.
Roh is coming off another big season for the Hanwha Eagles, slashing .283/.360/.505 with 29 homers over 571 plate appearances in 2026. He’s also entering his age-26 season, and Hanwha is moving forward with posting him for MLB teams. That gives Seattle a chance to add a right-handed hitter with a real track record in South Korea.
But the defensive piece is the one that matters most. The Mariners need to get better on that side of the ball, and first base is already spoken for by Josh Naylor.
That leaves third base as the key question. If Roh can hold it down, he fits a real need.
If the evaluation points him toward first base or designated hitter, the Mariners probably don’t have much room to make it work.
There are reasons to be cautious at the plate, too. Roh struck out in 25.7 percent of his plate appearances in 2026, and his walk rate dropped to 8.9 percent.
Those numbers matter as he gets ready for MLB pitching. The power is real, but Seattle would still need to see whether the contact profile holds up against a higher level of competition.
World Baseball Network has raised concerns about his range and athleticism at third, and suggested first base could end up being his eventual MLB home. That’s a view worth testing, not automatically accepting.
The Mariners would have to decide for themselves whether he can handle everyday work at the position. Even if the defense is merely average, they may be willing to live with it if the bat plays.
Roh’s age makes the gamble more appealing. At 26, he’s young enough to leave room for growth, especially if Seattle believes in its hitting development.
With CJ Gillman joining as hitting coach, the Mariners have a chance to show what that approach can do. Roh would arrive with one clear strength and one clear challenge: keep the power while improving his swing decisions against MLB pitching.
That’s why he’s an interesting option for Seattle, not just a power source. The Mariners would need the defensive evaluation to come back in their favor, but if it does, Roh could give them a needed bat and a player with room to become more valuable.
They’d still need more help after that, though. Roh shouldn’t be asked to carry the offense by himself.
He’d need a position, a defined hitting plan and more support around him.
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