The Seattle Mariners are a team that has been rich in pitching but lacking in offensive firepower.
They addressed this by acquiring Randy Arozarena from the Tampa Bay Rays, but they could be in the market for more offensive help in the offseason.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com made a list of the Top 10 upcoming free agents and noted that the Mariners could be a fit for San Francisco Giants slugger Matt Chapman.
“Chapman got off to a subpar start but he’s excelled in his past 81 games, posting an .877 OPS with 15 homers while playing his usually strong defense at third base,” Feinsand wrote. “Barring injury or a terrible finish to his year, Chapman seems likely to opt out and test the market again this winter.”
Seattle does have Josh Rojas as an option at third base, but they are likely going to need a bigger presence to bolster their lineup. This is where Chapman comes into play.
Though he is only hitting .247 this season, the 31-year-old slugger has hit 20 home runs and knocked in 62 runs while stealing 12 bases and posting a .783 OPS. The 31-year-old would certainly give Seattle a boost in their lineup.
A lineup featuring Chapman, Arozarena, Jorge Polanco, Julio Rodriguez, and Cal Raleigh has the potential to be one of the best offenses in all of Major League Baseball. Chapman would give the Mariners a much better chance to reach the postseason and go on a deep run, especially if they fall short this year.
It will be interesting to see if Chapman ultimately opts out and what his market will look like if he does. The Giants could ultimately keep him, but he would be a very good fit with the Mariners, who are trying to remain competitive.
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