3B in 2026

[Ruminator]

Things could get interesting at 3B! Something tells me Emerson is going to be more than just serviceable playing in the majors:

 

[SoulfishHawk]

This team is loaded, esp. in the minors.

 

[bileever]

Last year Colt Emerson went from single A to AA to AAA, ending up with a .842 OPS with 16 HRs and 78 RBIs in 130 games. In limited ABs at Tacoma, he hit .364 with an OPS of 1.172.

He looks like he could be ready, but would hate to rush him. He's only 19.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

I'm excited about Emerson. I could see Geno signing back cheap given his age. Im not sure there's a huge market there but i'm also not sure the Mariners are that bothered compared to Polanco. Could be wrong. Then when Emerson is ready they could shift Geno.

 

[sutz]

I'm kinda meh on bringing Geno back. Other than the slam in the playoffs, he really didn't do anything at the plate in his time last season.

I'd rather Emerson stayed in Tacoma at start, then bring him up mid-season to spell JP a bit. Cole and rivas at 2d doesn't scare me, though I guess I'd be fine if they bring Polo back, but only for one season.

Want to see more Williamson. He's a stud at 3rd base, though he needs to hit better.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Exactly. Geno is a strikeout machine. He's not even close to the defensive 3B that Williamson is.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Exactly. Geno is a strikeout machine. He's not even close to the defensive 3B that Williamson is.

When he is on form though he is great like he was at the start of the year. I'm not too bothered either and I don't think they throw a ton of money at him unless its cheap.

 

[bileever]

3B, 2B and DH are still to be determined. It would be great to get a solid bat for one of those three positions. I would have loved to get Gleyber Torres but he just accepted a qualifying offer to go back to the Tigers. Of all the second base free agents left, Jorge Polanco is probably the best option. He won't be cheap though--they're projecting that he'll get $42 million/3 years. That's a gamble, considering that he'll be 33 next year.

I think a good option might be getting Marcell Ozuna. He's going to cost $12 to 15 million per year, probably, which isn't bad, but he's 34 and kind of fell off a cliff last year. But reports are that he played through a hip injury last year, and he could be better next year if he's healed up. Last year he had 21 HRs and an OPS of .756, significantly lower than the 39 HRs and and OPS of .925 that he had the year before.

RF and LF are probably settled with Randy Arozarena ($11 million) and Victor Robles ($9 million) both under contract for 2026. I'm okay with both of them, especially since there's really no one better available in free agency (except Kyle Tucker, who apparently is going to get $425 million/10 years and I wouldn't pay that for him).

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

3B, 2B and DH are still to be determined. It would be great to get a solid bat for one of those three positions. I would have loved to get Gleyber Torres but he just accepted a qualifying offer to go back to the Tigers. Of all the second base free agents left, Jorge Polanco is probably the best option. He won't be cheap though--they're projecting that he'll get $42 million/3 years. That's a gamble, considering that he'll be 33 next year.

I think a good option might be getting Marcell Ozuna. He's going to cost $12 to 15 million per year, probably, which isn't bad, but he's 34 and kind of fell off a cliff last year. But reports are that he played through a hip injury last year, and he could be better next year if he's healed up. Last year he had 21 HRs and an OPS of .756, significantly lower than the 39 HRs and and OPS of .925 that he had the year before.

RF and LF are probably settled with Randy Arozarena ($11 million) and Victor Robles ($9 million) both under contract for 2026. I'm okay with both of them, especially since there's really no one better available in free agency (except Kyle Tucker, who apparently is going to get $425 million/10 years and I wouldn't pay that for him).

Was it Robles or Arozarena that got hurt early in the year and said the injury bothered them throughout the season?

 

[sutz]

Was it Robles or Arozarena that got hurt early in the year and said the injury bothered them throughout the season?

Robles was hurt early and missed almost all of the season. Came back in September.

 

[NoGain]

Yeah, I'm not big on Arozarena the complete player, and found his playoff performance lacking and frustrating. But as someone mentioned, what better FA is he going to be replaced with that isn't going to cost a fortune in the outfield corner?

We've just got to find a way to get a couple of better contact/OBP hitters with better eyes for the strike zone into our lineup. It was our clear lack last year which really showed up in the playoffs. Can we please get guys in from third with less than two outs with more consistency next year? That might have been the singular thing that frustrated me the most last season. LOL

 

[NoGain]

It's such a roll of the dice putting a young minor leaguer into your lineup. But it's got to happen at some point.

Very interesting off season for us. What a great start with the Naylor signing, though.

 

[IndyHawk]

Last year Colt Emerson went from single A to AA to AAA, ending up with a .842 OPS with 16 HRs and 78 RBIs in 130 games. In limited ABs at Tacoma, he hit .364 with an OPS of 1.172.

He looks like he could be ready, but would hate to rush him. He's only 19.

Your ready when you are, JR and ARoid were both up very young.

 

[IndyHawk]

I'm kinda meh on bringing Geno back. Other than the slam in the playoffs, he really didn't do anything at the plate in his time last season.

I'd rather Emerson stayed in Tacoma at start, then bring him up mid-season to spell JP a bit. Cole and rivas at 2d doesn't scare me, though I guess I'd be fine if they bring Polo back, but only for one season.

Want to see more Williamson. He's a stud at 3rd base, though he needs to hit better.

I'm meh on Geno and the low BA with a high strikeout rate, his defense
has declined as he gets older.

 

[IndyHawk]

Time for the Colt Emerson era to begin, Cole Young is already
here.
Willamson may have found his swing late last season in Tacoma,
we will see.

 

[Crizilla]

This team is loaded, esp. in the minors.

Loaded might be an overstatement. Bottom of the line up still weak.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Breathes in....................I SAID ESPECIALLY IN THE MINORS.

Go M's

 

[Ruminator]

Breathes in....................I SAID ESPECIALLY IN THE MINORS.

Go M's

Yeah there ya go, he evidently didn't hear that last part.

 

[Bobblehead]

Things could get interesting at 3B! Something tells me Emerson is going to be more than just serviceable playing in the majors:

Would rather see COlt play SS and move JP to 2B.. JP's arm is just not what it used to be and though exciting, I'd rather not see Naler scramble for every thrown ball at him.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

No doubt. His throws were ridiculous. Naylor saved him countless times. JP as 2nd would be fine.