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As the Seattle Mariners look ahead to the 2027 season, their offseason strategy should center on acquiring a position player who can elevate the lineup's competitiveness. Whether the addition comes at an infield or corner outfield spot, the goal remains the same: make the Mariners a tougher team to pitch against. While that objective sounds straightforward, executing it in Seattle has rarely been simple.
Any viable trade discussion must address two critical questions: why would the opposing team part with the player, and what would Seattle need to give up in return? Applying those filters to the available options yields four names, each occupying a different tier of feasibility. One stands out as a logical fit, another represents a financial risk, and the remaining two require a significant leap of imagination and may not be realistic until more information surfaces.
Xavier Edwards: Contact and Speed, But a Defensive Puzzle
Xavier Edwards posted a .280/.360/.371 slash line with 21 stolen bases, offering a skill set that doesn't rely on power but still addresses Seattle's offensive needs. He controls the strike zone, puts the ball in play, and applies pressure on the bases—exactly the type of hitter the Mariners could use. However, finding him a permanent defensive position is complicated. Cole Young is entrenched at second base after a Gold Glove campaign in 2026, and Colt Emerson is the shortstop of the future. Seattle shouldn't disrupt either player just because Edwards has spent most of his recent time at second. The team would need to believe he can handle another infield spot or use him frequently enough across the diamond to justify the acquisition cost.
Miami has given other clubs reason to inquire. The Marlins reportedly listened to offers for Edwards before the 2026 trade deadline but ultimately kept him, suggesting he was available at a price—not untouchable. That price would be steep, as Edwards is just 27, inexpensive, and under club control. Seattle would likely have to surrender meaningful prospect capital. While a deep farm system is meant to eventually bolster the major-league roster, the Mariners shouldn't overspend on a player whose arrival creates another positional logjam. Edwards remains one of the most attainable names on this list, but calling him the cleanest roster fit would ignore the infield Seattle has already committed to building around Young and Emerson.
Matt Chapman: A Costly Gamble with Warning Signs
Matt Chapman is the type of player who can tempt a front office into overlooking obvious red flags. The appeal is clear: he's an established third baseman whose defense and track record would bring certainty to the left side of Seattle's infield. The Giants made Chapman and other expensive veterans available during the 2026 season, so this isn't a scenario pulled from thin air. However, the contract changes everything. Chapman is owed $100 million over the next four seasons, holds a full no-trade clause, and is coming off a year in which he batted .235 with a career-low .692 OPS before undergoing season-ending core-muscle surgery.
If the Mariners absorb most of the money, the baseball return to San Francisco should be modest. If the Giants want real young talent, they need to cover a substantial portion of the contract. Chapman could improve the Mariners, but that doesn't make every version of the trade intelligent.
Joey Ortiz: Popular Name, Questionable Fit
Joey Ortiz has been a popular name circulating recently, but that's different from being the right trade target. He has handled both shortstop and third base for Milwaukee, giving Seattle the kind of defensive flexibility teams value. But the premise that he's an elite, obvious solution needs scrutiny. Ortiz's offensive production has been very hot and cold, and the Mariners already have Emerson established as their long-term shortstop after signing him to an extension through 2033. Then there's the question of what would motivate Milwaukee to move him. The Brewers are a contender, currently ahead in the NLCS over the Dodgers, and controllable infielders are exactly the players an organization like that usually keeps. Seattle would have to overpay simply to make Milwaukee reconsider. George Kirby would probably be the asking price, which would end the conversation immediately. Trading a foundational starting pitcher for Ortiz would create a larger problem than it solves.
Ortiz slashed .270/.328/.402 with 9 home runs and 47 RBIs. He wouldn't be expected to produce much more if he spent half his games hitting in T-Mobile Park. But defensively, he would still be an upgrade at third base. If Milwaukee becomes surprisingly motivated and the cost drops, the Mariners should listen. Until then, Ortiz belongs closer to the fantasy section of the board.
Ronald Acuña Jr.: A Dream, Not a Plan
Of course the Mariners should want Ronald Acuña Jr. Every team should. And after the way the boo birds rained down in Atlanta to end the season, the Braves could begin answering the phone to listen. But wanting him doesn't produce a trade market. Atlanta controls Acuña through two $17 million club options for 2027 and 2028. MLB.com recently described exercising the first option as one of the easiest decisions of the offseason. That contract is enormously valuable even after a merely good season (.255/.345/.451 with 20 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases in 107 games). Instagram changes and frustrated speculation following a postseason exit aren't evidence that the Braves intend to trade the face of their franchise.
If Atlanta somehow entertained offers, the Mariners would be bidding against the sport for a former MVP. The conversation would begin with multiple elite prospects, continue with young major-league talent, and probably reach a point where Seattle should walk away. And let's be honest, Acuña hasn't played a full season since his MVP-winning season in 2023. A healthy Acuña would transform the lineup. He's also not a realistic offseason target. We can admire the idea without pretending it belongs on Jerry Dipoto's working trade board.
The Mariners should concentrate their energy where ambition and reality overlap. That means calling Miami about Edwards first and determining exactly how desperate San Francisco is to move Chapman's contract. Everything else is noise.
Tremayne Person is the Publisher for Mariners On SI and the Site Expert at Friars on Base, with additional bylines across FanSided's MLB division. He founded the Keep It Electric podcast in 2023 and covers baseball with a blend of analysis, context, and a little well-timed side-eye just to keep things honest. Tremayne grew up a Mariners fan in Richmond, Va., and that passion ultimately led him to move to Seattle to cover the team closely and become a regular at home games. Through his writing, he connects with fans who want a deeper, more personal understanding of the game. When he's not at T-Mobile Park, he's with his dog, gaming, or finding the next storyline worth digging into. Follow TremaynePerson.