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The Mariners’ Second Base Competition

By Anthony Franco | February 20, 2025 at 4:55pm CDT

The Mariners spent most of the offseason looking to address the infield. They eventually made a pair of relatively small free agent pickups. Donovan Solano was brought in as a right-handed platoon partner for Luke Raley at first base. Seattle surprisingly re-signed last year’s second baseman Jorge Polanco after the worst season of his career. The M’s are attributing that dip mostly to knee issues that required postseason surgery.

Polanco is moving to third base. That’s an effort to reduce how much he’ll move laterally to hopefully put less stress on his knees. The Mariners needed to do something at third base. Josh Rojas, who’d provided very little offensively after the first month of last season, was non-tendered. Polanco’s return will hopefully provide a boost at the hot corner, but it leaves second base open. There’ll likely be a camp battle between a veteran utilityman, a couple players with limited big league experience, and perhaps one of the organization’s top prospects.

Dylan Moore

A six-year major league veteran, Moore has easily the most experience of anyone in the competition. He has been a productive role player for Seattle. Moore typically plays in over 100 games per season while bouncing around the diamond. He takes a lot of walks and brings some right-handed pop, but his batting averages have hovered around the Mendoza line. He’s a career .206/.316/.384 hitter. He posted a .201/.320/.367 line with 10 homers and 32 stolen bases across a career-high 441 plate appearances last year.

Park-adjusted metrics like wRC+ and OPS+ had his overall offensive output right around league average — a reflection of how difficult it is to hit at T-Mobile Park. Moore’s splits are stark. He hit .249/.362/.478 away from Seattle but mustered only a .144/.269/.234 slash line at home. He was also far better against left-handed pitching. Moore hit .229/.352/.410 when he held the platoon advantage, compared to a .183/.299/.339 mark against righties.

Daniel Kramer of MLB.com wrote last night that Moore was the frontrunner for the starting job, though the M’s haven’t made a final decision. The 32-year-old has never had one settled position. He played all four infield spots and in left field last year. Moore has logged over 100 career innings at every position aside from catcher. He’s miscast at shortstop and in center field but plays solid defense everywhere else. Both Defensive Runs Saved and Statcast have credited him as an above-average defender in his nearly 1100 career innings at the keystone.

Ryan Bliss

Bliss, 25, is a former second-round pick by Arizona whom the Mariners acquired in the Paul Sewald trade. He’s coming off a strong year at Triple-A Tacoma. The Auburn product hit .269/.377/.456 with 12 homers and 50 stolen bases (albeit with 13 times caught stealing) over 93 games. He drew walks at an excellent 14.1% clip against an average 22.4% strikeout rate. The Mariners called him up in late May.

Over his first 33 MLB contests, the righty-swinging Bliss hit .222/.290/.397. He hit a couple homers and swiped five bases, but he had a tough time making contact. Bliss struck out in 22 of his 71 plate appearances (a 31% rate) with a huge 16.5% swinging strike rate. That was a small sample in his first look at MLB pitching, so some struggles are to be expected, but the M’s optioned him back to Triple-A for the final two months of the season.

Listed at 5’7″ and 165 pounds, Bliss isn’t going to be a prototypical slugger. His average exit velocity and hard contact rate at both the Triple-A and MLB levels were solid, though. He has more power than it might seem at first glance. He’s a good athlete with decent strike zone discipline. The biggest question is whether the bat-to-ball skills will develop enough to make him a regular.

While Moore provides a ton of defensive flexibility, Bliss has a more limited profile. He played exclusively second base in the majors. Bliss has played on the left side of the infield (mostly shortstop) in the minors, but his arm strength is a question. He’s fast enough that the Mariners could eventually get him some work in the outfield, though his professional experience there consists of two minor league games in left field. Bliss still has a pair of options, so he’s likelier to end up back in Triple-A if he doesn’t win the second base job.

Cole Young

Young, 21, was Seattle’s first-round pick in 2022. He has ranked among Baseball America’s Top 100 overall prospects in all three professional seasons. Young has primarily played shortstop in the minors, but he started 37 games at second base with Double-A Arkansas last season. Barring injury to J.P. Crawford, Young figures to break into the majors as a second baseman.

Could that be as soon as Opening Day? President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has left the door open. “We are open to the idea that if any of our young players — if we feel like they have the ability to impact us in a meaningful way — show us that this is their time, we’re just going to let them run,” Dipoto said (via Kramer).

Young is coming off a strong Double-A season. He hit .271/.369/.390 with a robust 12.1% walk rate and a modest 15.8% strikeout percentage. While he only hit nine homers, he has an advanced hit tool and plate discipline. BA credits him as a potential plus hitter with fringe power who could play an above-average second base.

The lefty hitter has no Triple-A experience. The conventional path would be for him to begin the season in Tacoma with an eye towards a midseason promotion. That’s the likeliest outcome, but a big performance in Spring Training might accelerate the timeline.

Leo Rivas/Miles Mastrobuoni

Rivas, a switch-hitter, is likelier to wind up as a depth infielder than a regular. He reached the majors last year for the first time as a 26-year-old, hitting .233/.333/.274 in 43 games. Rivas posted big numbers in Triple-A. He turned in a .296/.441/.424 slash behind a massive 20.7% walk rate. He’ll work plenty of free passes but has limited power. Rivas can play shortstop and is better suited as a utility player. With two minor league options, he’ll likely bounce on and off the active roster.

Seattle acquired the 29-year-old Mastrobuoni in a DFA trade with the Cubs last month. He’s a .219/.279/.263 hitter over parts of three seasons. He’s unlikely to play regularly but could get occasional work around the infield if he holds onto his 40-man roster spot. He still has an option remaining.

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MLBTR Originals Seattle Mariners Cole Young Dylan Moore Leo Rivas Miles Mastrobuoni Ryan Bliss

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View Comments (40)
Post a Comment

40 Comments

  1. DanFan

    4 months ago

    Mariners could have Cronenworth for a song.

    2
    Reply
    • Gwynning

      4 months ago

      Liar. Cronie isn’t being shopped for sale, nor should he be. That being said… what is Seattle offering?

      3
      Reply
      • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

        4 months ago

        Would a mitchwitch interest the sielders?

        5
        Reply
        • Gwynning

          4 months ago

          Nah, rather have Cronie ballin’ out at 2B and hitting 5th, 6th. No use for El Mitches in San Diego… heck, rather have the sammich!

          Reply
        • DanFan

          4 months ago

          Probably batting 7th.

          Reply
      • mlb fan

        4 months ago

        “what is Seattle offering”…A number #3 combo meal. That should about do it, because the combo meal comes with curly fries and all the soft drinks you can chug.

        Call us about Jackson Merill if you want to have a serious conversation that doesn’t start and end with fries.

        1
        Reply
        • Gwynning

          4 months ago

          “Call us about Jackson Merill…”

          New phone, who dis?

          Don’t hold your breath, braddha!

          3
          Reply
        • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

          4 months ago

          Fries? As in de vries??? I don’t know about you all but I wouldn’t want to give up a mitchwitch or a polanco for that… you’d have to add a Merrill

          Reply
        • Gwynning

          4 months ago

          Y’all are certifiable…

          Aloha!

          1
          Reply
        • Buggy

          4 months ago

          Iglesias please

          Reply
        • octavian8

          4 months ago

          Seattle could have had Jonathan India

          Reply
    • outinleftfield

      4 months ago

      Why do you troll? What do you get out of it? Do you get your rocks off that way? Is that because you are an incel that has never had a girlfriend? Just curious.

      1
      Reply
      • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

        4 months ago

        @out I can’t tell who you are responding to…DanFan, mlb fan, Gwynny, or someone I have blocked. But I understand that’s my problem, not yours.

        1
        Reply
    • stuart schlotterbeck

      4 months ago

      Seattle wouldn’t want to take on Cronenworth’s contract.

      1
      Reply
  2. outinleftfield

    4 months ago

    Ouch!!

    Reply
  3. bob9988 2

    4 months ago

    In other words, the Mariners Ownership/Front Office didn’t want to get an actual 2B. Just like the last 7-8 years.

    5
    Reply
    • Major League Baseball Fan

      4 months ago

      A++++++ post.

      Reply
  4. DanFan

    4 months ago

    If they could get a 5th starter that has control in return and offload a bad contract at the same time it would be a win for SD. Especially with Cease and King leaving next season.

    Reply
  5. The_Porcupine

    4 months ago

    A whole lot not to like there

    Reply
    • ayrbhoy

      4 months ago

      Cole Young is one of the best pure hitters in the entire MiLB system. There’s a whole lot to like about that guy. A 60 grade Hit Tool is a very good rating. Literally the only thing I don’t like about him is that he is still in MiLB!

      Speaking of the Minors in 2024 Cole Y held his own in AA playing in one of the most difficult Hitters Parks in America, as a 20 yr old!! He is the type of Lefty Hitter this lineup is craving – plug him in 6th thru 9th in the lineup. A savvy hitter who has a very high OBP to keep the line moving. He knows the K-Zone, doesn’t chase bad pitches and hits to all corners of the Park. He’s not a slugger but thats okay- we’ve seen plenty of sluggers try and fail in T-Mobile. A lot to like about this kid – if he rakes in Spring Training thats a good problem to have

      5
      Reply
      • proton

        4 months ago

        I have been saying for awhile. We don’t need power hitters we have enough that strike out a lot and hit a HR every once in awhile.

        We need guys who can hit a double or even a single. They say we have a park that doubles are hard to hit in. Seems odd to see so many doubles hit there. Anyway 3-5 pure hitters mixed in between the power hitters would score the couple more runs we need to win. If we had those extra couple runs we would be a major player for a was title.

        1
        Reply
  6. El Kabong

    4 months ago

    This big stick competition is being held in honor of former Mariners infielder Mario Mendoza.

    2
    Reply
  7. Rsox

    4 months ago

    I thought Brendan Rodgers would have been a nice fit and probably could have been signed to the same minor league deal he got with Houston. Jose Iglesias would be a solid get here as well

    7
    Reply
    • El Kabong

      4 months ago

      Either would have been fine. Gavin Lux, too.

      Reply
  8. bearproof

    4 months ago

    “Our goal was to set ourselves to be as flexible from an age, from a system and from a payroll perspective as we could in that 2021 launch…. That gives us incredible spending power in the free-agent market at a time when some of the best players of this generation might be available in free agency.”-Jerry Dipoto

    are these the generational talent he was talking about?

    1
    Reply
    • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

      4 months ago

      I’m not even sure you have quoted Jerry correctly because I don’t know what generational free agent talent he could be referring to…maybe it was Soto and Ohtani? But free agent talent is very rarely ever generational.

      Reply
  9. deepseamonster32

    4 months ago

    2B plan: Cole Young
    DH plan: a Mitch until we sell the farm for Vlad

    Reply
    • ❤️ MuteButton

      4 months ago

      I doubt Seattle could afford Vlad, it’s even more unlikely that he would want to go there to see his numbers drop off

      1
      Reply
      • deepseamonster32

        4 months ago

        I’m talking about a mid-season trade, and Ryan Divish (Seattle Times) has reported that Vlad is a guy they’d pay for (not a mega-deal, but his arb prices).

        1
        Reply
  10. muskie73

    4 months ago

    Isn’t Dylan Moore’s 2024 Gold Glove worth a mention? Moore is a utility player whose best position is second base.

    3
    Reply
    • TheGr8One

      4 months ago

      And this is coming from a mariners fan no Moore’s GG isn’t worth mentioning and shouldn’t exist. Utility isn’t a position. Being #2 at 3 positions shouldn’t warrant a GG.

      1
      Reply
      • deepseamonster32

        4 months ago

        Being able to fill in at all 7 positions is a valuable skill.

        Also why I’m not thrilled he’s entering Spring Training pigeonholed to 2nd.

        Reply
      • proton

        4 months ago

        People said the same thing about the DH not long ago. Then Edgar came along then Big Papi after him. I believe they admitted Gar into the hall was because it would have been odd to put Papi in and not Edgar. Since he had as good and better numbers than Papi.

        Reply
  11. Zippy the Pinhead

    4 months ago

    They tried Moore as the regular 2B a few years ago and it failed. He didn’t shine as the full-time SS when JP was injured. My guess, and that’s all it is, is Bliss with a short leash, then Young when he doesn’t cost them a contract year (June?). If Bliss can’t hit his weight through April, then maybe it’s Rivas (who, technically, seemed to be ahead of him last year at Tacoma).

    Reply
    • Stevil

      4 months ago

      That doesn’t mean Moore isn’t the best option now.

      I doubt they run with poor defense at third, second, and first. Bliss is the worst defensively and hasn’t faced many RHPs at the MLB level.

      Young didn’t dominate AA (though he looked good in the postseason). I don’t think it’s about service time with him, I think it’s about readiness.

      Moore is likely going to get the lion’s share of starts at second.They can only do so much with the corners to start the season, but they can at least tighten up at second.

      Reply
  12. Ignorant Son-of-a-b

    4 months ago

    I always thought Bo Bichette would make a fine second baseman for the Mariners.

    Reply
  13. GarryHarris

    4 months ago

    There’s a couple big ifs.

    2B Cole Young
    3B Jorge Polanco

    Reply
  14. ❤️ MuteButton

    4 months ago

    Couldn’t they have offered Brendan Rogers a major league contract. He signed a minor league deal with the Astros so… And then consider Iglesias, why don’t they go after him? It could be that neither Rogers nor Iglesias want to play in Seattle. So many players see their numbers plummet there.

    Reply
  15. Major League Baseball Fan

    4 months ago

    I have lived near Seattle for 34 years. This team (and Comcast) have never given me any reason to become a fan. I can truly say I can’t stand this team. Let’s go Mets.

    1
    Reply
    • proton

      4 months ago

      Thanks for your input. I will stash it in the who cares file. Your post was a waste of time reading. Time I will never get back. Good Bye.

      Reply

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