The Mariners and infielder Patrick Wisdom are in agreement on a minor league deal, reports Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. The Apex Baseball client will receive an invite to big league spring training.
Wisdom, now 34, had a strong run with the Cubs from 2021 to 2023. His production was fairly predictable. He would strike out a ton but would usually put the ball over the fence when he did connect. He hit at least 23 home runs in each of those three seasons but struck out in at least 34% of his plate appearances in all three.
Put together, he had 76 home runs in 1,211 plate appearances over those years while striking out at a 36.9% clip. That led to a lopsided .214/.298/.473 line. Despite the strikeouts and low batting average, he was 11% better than league average for that span, according to wRC+.
He got bumped into a bench role in 2024 but hit just .171/.237/.392 174 plate appearances. Since he was never an especially gifted defender, the drop-off at the plate became untenable and he was non-tendered at season’s end.
He signed with the the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization and revered back to his previous form. He struck out in 29.2% of his plate appearances in South Korea last year but launched 35 homers. He finished the year with a .236/.321/.535 line and 126 wRC+. He got brief stints in the outfield corners but mostly split his time between third and first base.
The Mariners will bring him aboard in a non-roster capacity and get a look at him. They have Josh Naylor as their regular at first base. The hot corner is a bit more open. The club has some interest in bringing back Eugenio Suárez, another power-hitting third baseman with big strikeouts, but he remains unsigned as a free agent.
It’s possible that prospect Colt Emerson could take over the job this year but he’s currently only 20 years old and hasn’t yet made it to the majors, with just six games of Triple-A experience. Ben Williamson currently projects as a glove-first regular at third, at least until Emerson forces his way in. Wisdom gives them another option without taking up a roster spot. It’s also possible Wisdom could earn his way into a bench role as a right-handed bat, providing platoon coverage for lefties like Naylor, Dominic Canzone, J.P. Crawford, Cole Young and Luke Raley.
Photo courtesy of Jim Rassol, Imagn Images
Its always wise to add depth to the minors.
But when the Angels do it it’s a different story
Only if they sign Trevor Story to a minor league deal and that won’t happen because he’s with the Red Sox. Unless it’s a different Story.
Oh
At least some park will have Air Conditioning. Cheap too.
Could be a wise move
He’d give his back teeth to strike out less!
I mean if he doesn’t make the opening day roster he will end up forcing himself on the roster quickly hitting in the hitter friendly AAA league. Not a bad pickup as mentioned he definitely did look good last year in Korea.
You watch Korean baseball
No but I look at baseball reference a good bit during the year to see how all the ex MLB guys are doing.
Waste of a roster spot, sorry Patrick
Minor league deal means inexpensive …and no commitment of a roster spot, unless I am mistaken.
I, too, question the Wisdom of the signing. They might have been better off standing Pat in this regard.
I wonder if he’s any better than Luis Urias, who we picked up in this capacity last year at this time, I believe.
With this move. Mariners are showing great WISDOM
That one was pretty smooth. Actually didn’t see that coming until the last second.
Doesn’t appear to have changed his hitting approach at all based on his numbers in the KBO (about a 30% K rate, 10.6% BB rate; similar enough to his MLB rates given the step down in competition), but a league-average bat with some pop is worth the minor league deal.
If this guy is ever on the Mariners roster, we’re probably in trouble. I’m sure Edgar will ask him, “Have you ever tried swinging with your eyes open before?” Boom, instant superstar.
Why does this stink of a Jerry Dipoto pivot move after not attaining the big bat they were searching for. He will probably spin it as a positive to bridge the gap to Emerson. I fear there will not be an impact bat on the way this offseason.
For what, a million$ and a non-roster spot …to secure a look at a guy who we all know, is all slug, just came off a 35 HR season in AAAA and has proven to be a 20-homer guy at the MLB level as insurance? This is good business and, if it isn’t, what’s a million these days, coffee money?
geez and here I thought all the Dipoto-haters went into the closet after 2025. But here you are, barking about a minor league depth deal with no risk for a guy who’s an average bat.
I never once said this wasn’t a good depth move… I said it stinks of a pivot move that will be packaged as a solution if they fail to get their impact bat. Dipoto has done that before.
If it is actually a depth move… great. If it attempt to be more than that… a la Luis Urias… not great.
Time will tell.
That’s incomprehensible: It’s been over two hours …Dipoto would be pushing that narrative already!!!
I think Naylor was the impact signing.
You are just making stuff up and getting mad about it lol it’s a minor league signing bro
Tacoma needs corner infielders too.
My thoughts exactly.
The Wisdom of 3 True Outcomes is back!? Maybe not Sonic’s
Or **notsomuch*** …. I really have to spend some time with my autocorrect
Good Luck P-Wizzy. I hope he makes the team and wish him well.
P-Wizzy ?
I’d go with Patty Dub.
P-Wizzy when he gets hot and he’s Patty Dubs when he average 2 Ks looking on a streak of at least 12 games. He challenged 10% and won all but 1.
Damn that’s super specific 😂
TTO: accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference.
.234 in Korea….that is not a good sign especially with 142k’s in 486 at bats in Korea!!
Not a bad move. Super nice guy as well. Glad to see him back in professional ball.
Instead of standing Pat, they showed a little Wisdom and got a bat with some pop for nothing.
I think he was with the mariners on a minor league deal around 5 years ago too
Major league deal, actually, then they cut him in spring training.
I bet Wisdom has a basic idea of a deal he could get in Korea for 2026, and if he’s not going to make the big league team then the Mariners will let him opt-out and pursue it.
Unless he disliked living in Korea so much that he would prefer to go to AAA.
He’s gonna be named in OOTP now!
Can’t wait I’ll put him in AAA and let him hit 50 home runs
May I ask what OOTP is ??
Out of the park baseball it’s a very detailed baseball management game.
the best ever man.
I guarantee you that no one has ever seen Patrick Wisdom and Joe Swanson in the same room at the same time,
Old friend!
World Series, Baby!
Patrick wisdom? I vaguely remember him he did have some promise, if it wasn’t for his injuries. And oh yes his strikeouts he may have had better luck. Things do happen fast in baseball this time around he does show some improvements if he can stay injury free he maybe useful as a DH pinch hitter since he does have some pop. Best of luck to him I hope he can make a difference.
I want to give a shout-out to a true baseball fan who use to frequent blogs such as this. The years and the tears have finally taken him away so it would seem, I’m ready to be proven wrong, speak up now Fred or forever rest in peace.
Yeah, I was wondering about him, too.