The Seattle Mariners are searching for an infielder who can strengthen the left side of their defense, but a reunion with J.P. Crawford is apparently no longer being considered. While that decision may seem somewhat counterproductive, it could offer insight into how the organization intends to address the position this offseason.
Jerry Dipoto recently spoke with Teren Kowatsch of Roundtable Sports, and his comments provided an interesting glimpse into the Mariners’ offseason plans. In particular, he expressed considerable interest in this year’s free-agent relief-pitching market, stating: “This year’s bullpen market is pretty appealing. There’s a lot of guys out there we feel like could help us. We’ve already identified who they might be.”
Although Seattle has shown some interest in the market surrounding hitters such as Seiya Suzuki, pursuing a player of that caliber should be viewed more as an ambitious possibility than a realistic expectation. Dipoto also emphasized at Tuesday’s GM Meetings that improving the team’s defense is the “max priority,” rather than focusing on offensive upgrades.
That defensive-first philosophy could explain why Seattle has seemingly moved on from Crawford. He remains a productive hitter and is widely respected for his presence in the clubhouse. However, declining range and throwing ability have made it increasingly difficult for him to provide the defensive value he once offered.
Three-time utility Gold Glove winner Mauricio Dubón immediately stands out as a potential alternative. However, signing him could make it more difficult for the Mariners to preserve the financial flexibility needed to pursue the bullpen additions Dipoto appears to favor. MLB Trade Rumors projects both Dubón and Crawford to receive two-year contracts, with Dubón estimated at $18 million and Crawford at $16 million.
Unfortunately, there is reason to believe this situation could lead to an underwhelming outcome. Rather than getting too far ahead of ourselves, let’s examine three potentially affordable Crawford replacements who offer some upside but also come with notable drawbacks. None would necessarily satisfy fans hoping to see Seattle land an established, high-quality player.
1. Edmundo Sosa
Before anyone points out how quickly things can change, it was only yesterday that we discussed Edmundo Sosa as a potential fit for Seattle. The right-handed infielder has accumulated more than 1,000 innings at both shortstop and third base, producing comfortably above-average defensive numbers at each position.
It’s not difficult to envision how Sosa could fit into the Mariners’ plans. Instead of becoming an everyday starter, he could share playing time with Colt Emerson and/or Brendan Donovan at shortstop and third base. He would also provide valuable coverage whenever injuries create a need elsewhere in the infield.
Sosa’s career .806 OPS against left-handed pitching makes him an appealing platoon option. However, the uncertainty surrounding his potential role is worth considering. He would likely be better suited to a part-time position than an everyday assignment.
That’s where concerns begin to emerge. Dipoto has repeatedly attempted to find success through platoon-heavy offensive arrangements, but those experiments have generally produced disappointing results. Sosa could become another example if Seattle relies too heavily on that approach.
2. Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Here’s an interesting fact: Say “utility infielder” three times in front of your bathroom mirror, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa might suddenly appear with his glove ready.
The veteran has plenty of experience across the infield, recording 857.1 innings at second base, 1,864 innings at third base, and an impressive 3,947 innings at shortstop throughout his nine major-league seasons.
Although Outs Above Average hasn’t been particularly impressed with his shortstop defense, his Defensive Runs Saved numbers tell a different story. Across all three positions, Kiner-Falefa has accumulated a combined +81 DRS, an impressive achievement that highlights his defensive versatility.
Like Sosa, IKF is a right-handed batter. However, he doesn’t offer the same pronounced platoon advantage. In fact, that’s hardly a positive, considering his OPS against both left-handed and right-handed pitchers sits around the .600 mark.
Those offensive limitations help explain his career 81 OPS+, a figure that falls toward the lower end of what’s acceptable for someone expected to receive semi-regular playing time.
His defensive versatility would certainly appeal to Seattle, but the question is whether his limited offensive production would create another problem in the lineup.
3. Ha-Seong Kim
Among the less-established options available on the infield market, Ha-Seong Kim arguably offers the greatest potential upside.
Kim was a five-WAR player with the San Diego Padres in both 2022 and 2023, combining excellent defensive work around the infield with above-average offensive production. At his best, he demonstrated the ability to contribute meaningfully on both sides of the ball.
Unfortunately, injuries have significantly disrupted his progress since then. He has appeared in just 99 games over the past two seasons, making his recent availability a legitimate concern.
His 51 appearances with the Atlanta Braves provided a particularly contrasting picture. Defensively, he remained effective at shortstop, recording +4 DRS. Offensively, however, his production fell dramatically, resulting in a disappointing 2 OPS+.
If Seattle decided to pursue Kim, the hope would be that improved health could help restore his offensive production while allowing him to maintain his defensive strengths.
There is, however, another complication: Kim hasn’t played third base since 2023. If the Mariners envisioned using him at both shortstop and third base, they would be taking a gamble that he could quickly regain his comfort at the hot corner.
Alternatively, keeping him exclusively at shortstop would create another dilemma. Doing so could force Colt Emerson away from his natural position simply to accommodate an experimental arrangement.
Ultimately, Kim might represent the most intriguing upside opportunity of the three, but his injury history, offensive uncertainty, and positional questions make him far from a guaranteed solution.
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