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The Seattle Mariners have made a couple impact moves of late -- trading for designated hitter/first baseman Kendrys Morales and signing veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez to a one-year contract -- but are still "wide open" to making a few more transactions before spring rolls around, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
#Mariners' Jack Z says team "wide open" to making other moves. Perfect world: Would like to get leadoff man, middle-of-the-order bat.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 27, 2012
There are pretty slim pickings left on the free agency so far as position players go, but there is still at least one prominent free agent who could fit the bill for each of the two "perfect world" lineup needs: Michael Bourn would make a solid leadoff hitter and Adam LaRoche is a bonafide middle-of-the-order bat.
The potential problem for the Mariners with signing either of the above-mentioned players is that both were made qualifying offers by their former clubs, which means that signing them would cost the club's top draft pick (No. 12) for next season.
If the Mariners are unable to make things work on the free-agent market, they could always explore their trade options as well. The Diamondbacks are shopping one or more of their outfielders, so there is potential for a move there, but it remains to be seen whether Seattle has the trade chips to get a deal done there. The club's most expendable option at the moment is first baseman Justin Smoak -- who is drawing interest from the Orioles -- but his prolonged struggles have done nothing to boost his trade value.
