The Seattle Mariners are looking to make a splash this offseason and the team has targeted Victor Martinez, Hanley Ramirez and Nelson Cruz as potential options and this comes as the M's may also look at shopping a Michael Saunders trade at the GM meetings this week as Jack Zduriencik tries to get his team to the playoffs after falling one game short in 2014.
The Mariners feel that they are very close to being a contending team and based on WAR and what they did last season, they have the potential to make the playoffs this year with some moves. The Mariners signed Robinson Cano last season and now they have another chance to get things going and this could be the big year for the team, as they now have a winning foundation. According to CBS Sports, Jon Heyman reports that the team is looking into both Victor Martinez and Hanley Ramirez and that they also are interested in trades.
Heyman added that Justin Upton is a trade target for the Mariners after be rebuffed a trade to the team a couple years ago, while Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas also could potentially be an option, but not as likely. The Mariners are a good team that is willing to spend and that means rumors will be flying about the team all offseason. The Mariners have decent prospects that they could trade for pieces and if they sign Hanley they could look at moving Brad Miller or Chris Taylor for another piece.
The Mariners have the best pitcher in the AL in Felix Hernandez and they just signed one of the best hitters in Robinson Cano last year. Kyle Seager has broken out as an All-Star player and with young talent around the team, the Mariners feel they are close to being a contender. The team needs more offense and that is where one of the free agents or a trade would come in. Ramirez has injury history and is getting on the wrong side of 30, but he could be very valuable in the Mariners lineup just by being there.
Jason Heyward and Upton are potential trade targets, as the Mariners want some offensive pop in their outfield. The team has a solid player in Michael Saunders, but they are looking to trade him and they could end up making a move to add some more offense. Upton was a silver slugger this year and after putting the Mariners down for a trade a couple years ago, he could allow it this time now that the team is starting to improve.
Martinez will be looking for a $20-million salary per season and that could be too much for the Mariners. The team wants a bat badly and he looks to be one of the best out there, but at his age he could be a big risk as well. USA Today writer Bob Nightengale wrote that the team is aggressively looking at Ramirez and he likely will be in the $100 million range no matter what type of deal he signs. The Mariners need offense and that is where they will be looking this offseason.