The Seattle Mariners are reportedly not expected to pursue a long-term deal with Randy Arozarena, and he could be headed elsewhere.
Arozarena reportedly wants to sign on the East Coast and is looking for a deal that will surpass what the Mariners want to pay. They will need to find a replacement for him in the outfield, and according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, they are interested in Ian Happ.
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“Jerry Dipoto says improving defense is a top priority; Happ owns 4 Gold Gloves,” wrote Morosi.
New manager Jason Kanzler is familiar with Happ from his time with the Cubs, and he could be a solid fit for the Mariners.
Happ has spent 10 seasons with the Cubs, but has declined offensively. He was an All-Star in 2022, posting a .781 OPS. Since then, he has a .238/.343/.426 slash line and 93 home runs. He does not seem like an equal to Arozarena offensively, but would be an upgrade with the glove.
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Happ is beloved by Cubs fans, but it does seem like his time with the team has come to an end. The Mariners would still need to add some bats to help replace Arozarena’s production, but Happ would be a great veteran presence in the clubhouse. Hopefully Cal Raleigh returns to form and takes a load off others on the offensive side of things.
More importantly, he would not break the bank for the Mariners. The Mariners were one win away from playing in the World Series in 2025, but missed the postseason this year.
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