Mariners surprisingly listed as 'dark horse' for Yankees superstar in free agency

The Seattle Mariners are becoming synonymous with a lack of offense. It's high time they change that this winter.

Despite constantly reshuffling the deck the past three seasons, the Mariners have always been near the bottom of Major League Baseball in batting average, and at the top in strikeouts.

It almost seems like anyone who wears a Seattle uniform is zapped of their powers. It happened to Teoscar Hernández, Jesse Winker, and this year, Mitch Haniger and Jorge Polanco. And Julio Rodríguez, thought to be the team's franchise cornerstone, has regressed in a major way.

With an elite pitching staff, most of which is young and cost-controlled, the Mariners have a golden opportunity to compete for championships that has slowly been slipping through their fingers. But that could change if they successfully land the biggest fish on the free-agent market this winter.

Thomas Erbe of FanSided listed the Mariners as one of the "dark horse" teams that could lure New York Yankees star Juan Soto away from the Bronx in 2025. Soto, 25, is expected to command at least $500 million in contract negotiations this winter.

"If Juan Soto is looking for a complete change of scenery, you cannot get further away from the East Coast than signing with the Seattle Mariners," Erbe said. "The M's have been on the cusp of something for several years now. Adding (Soto) into the mix may give them an edge over the (rival) Houston Astros."

With a 1.019 OPS, Soto ranks over 270 points higher than any qualified hitter on the Mariners' current roster. His 37 home runs, 108 runs scored, and 109 walks also dwarf anything Seattle has gotten from their hitters.

The former Washington National and San Diego Padre is having a career year with the Yankees, and setting himself up to make a boatload of money because of it. And if Seattle is willing to spend like they never have before, they could sneak into the Soto sweepstakes.

Of course, Soto also has to be willing to go to Seattle, which has gained a reputation as a tough hitters park of late. But the pitching is a real calling card, and if the young star wants to be a part of bringing a franchise its first title, the Mariners could end up being the surprise best fit.

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