Salk: Mariners Trade Targets Include Seiya Suzuki and Gunnar Henderson

As Major League Baseball’s general manager meetings wrap up, Seattle Sports reported that the Seattle Mariners have emerged in discussions surrounding four distinct trade targets.

In a column breaking down the roster needs, Mike Salk argued that while additions are necessary, defensive upgrades must not come at the expense of offensive production.

“The first one was outfielder Seiya Suzuki from the Cubs,” Salk told Seattle Sports. “He’s gonna be 32 years old. I like it. It would cost some money, but that dude can hit and he can play defense. He allows them to improve their defense in the outfield, which they need, without sacrificing offense.”

Suzuki would serve effectively as a replacement for Randy Arozarena, according to the analysis. The club also faces other roster shifts this offseason, with recent reports indicating the Mariners won’t re-sign longtime shortstop J.P. Crawford, alongside the organization officially making two coaching hires.

Another prominent name linked to Seattle is Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson. At just 26 years old, the athletic shortstop is coming off a couple of down seasons within the Baltimore organization.

“It would take a lot to get him – a lot,” Salk told Seattle Sports. “But you know what? The Mariners have eight starting pitchers who are legitimate major league starters. That’s not just having enough. That’s not just having backup. That’s starting to hoard major league starters, and at some point, you are hurting yourself on the other side of the ledger.”

Conversely, the column raised concerns about prioritizing defensive specialists whose bats carry less impact. Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs and Mauricio Dubón, formerly of the Houston Astros and more recently the Atlanta Braves, were cited as players who offer strong defense and versatility but do not provide the offensive firepower the lineup requires.

“I’m just not willing to sacrifice offense for defense,” Salk told Seattle Sports. “It doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice defense for offense, but remember, offense has to come first, especially for this team.”