Seattle might go for it.
The Seattle Mariners could use upgrades at both corner infield spots.
They might just want to wear out the phones in the Arizona Diamondbacks front office.
Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez could both be available before the MLB trade deadline. The first-baseman Naylor and third-baseman Suarez would both be massive upgrades for the Mariners.
In new analysis by ESPN's MLB insider Jeff Passan out Thursday morning, he suggests Seattle might just go get both guys.
"Though the Mariners are managing with Donovan Solano and Luke Raley at first base, upgrading to Naylor would transform Seattle's lineup for the better," Passan writes. "Whether it's slotting him behind J.P. Crawford to ensure Cal Raleigh comes to the plate with more baserunners, or sticking him in between Raleigh and Randy Arozarena to do the cleaning up himself, Naylor is a high-average, low-strikeout slugger whose quality at-bats would help transform a solid Seattle lineup into something more.
"Pairing him with Eugenio Suárez would plug both of Seattle's holes, and certainly the Mariners have the prospect capital to pull off the double. Considering the state of their pitching -- a tremendous rotation and a Gabe Speier-Matt Brash-Andrés Muñoz endgame -- the Mariners need only a depth reliever to feel comfortable. Upgrading the lineup is the distinct priority over the next three weeks, and executives expect Seattle to act aggressively."
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What a win that would be if the Mariners landed both.
All of a sudden, Raleigh and Arozarena would have huge support in the heart of the lineup. It's the kind of double-whammy that could set Seattle up for a huge second-half run.
Even landing one of Naylor or Suarez would be crucial to the Mariners' chances. But why not shoot for the stars and aim for both?
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Category: Baseball
