Three familiar DH trade candidates for the Mariners
Trading for a DH could help the Mariners boost their inconsistent offense. Would the team make such a move?
Frank Franklin II / AP Images
So far, we’ve discussed infield trade candidates and potential outfield targets to help augment the Mariners’ inconsistent run production effort. Now, let’s turn our attention to the designated hitter position. First, a few administrative items.
Our infielder and outfielder discussions targeted on-field contributions. This still applies, so there won’t be any money or contract talk. Moreover, I won’t be delving into what it might take to land any of these players. I’m not qualified to be a GM, so I’m going to act like one.
That brings us to another issue - market availability. It’s quite possible the three players we’re about to discuss won’t be on the trade block next month. Another possibility - the Mariners may have zero interest in acquiring any of the names we’ve recently discussed. All of this is understood on my end. Remember, the trade-related pieces produced over the last few days are designed to generate fun conversations and spur thought amongst fans.
Okay, let’s begin with a hitter the Mariners saw in April.
Joc Pederson - Diamondbacks
Selling points: Pederson would lead the Mariners in AVG, OBP, SLG, wOBA, and wRC+. Furthermore, the 32-year-old would tie with Cal Raleigh for team lead in the Baseball Reference version of WAR (bWAR). Only Josh Rojas is better than Pederson in the FanGraphs version (fWAR). Impressive for a player exclusively used as a designated hitter this year.
Among 13 players with 200-plus plate appearances at designated hitter this season, Pederson’s 158 wRC+ ranks third behind Shohei Ohtani (191) and Marcell Ozuna (168). When compared to all hitters with more than 200 plate appearances, the native of Palo Alto, California is tied for 16th-best with Christian Yelich (148) and just behind Yordan Alvarez (149).
Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) quantities how a hitter’s total offensive value compares with the league average after adjusting for park effects. League-average is always 100. Therefore, a wRC+ of 150 means a hitter was 50-percent more productive than the average player. An 80 wRC+ would be 20-percent below average.
Pederson has been very productive at home and the road this season. At Chase Field, the left-handed hitter has an .894 OPS. Away from Phoenix, he’s produced an .856 OPS.
Although he’s been a full-time designated hitter with the Diamondbacks this year, Pederson played the field in recent seasons with the Giants. In 2022-23, he made a combined 119 starts in corner outfield spots. It’s worth noting the 11th-round pick of the Dodgers in 2010 has made 23 appearances at first base during his career.
Pederson possesses a postseason pedigree. In 218 playoff plate appearances, the 11-year veteran has a .814 OPS. Furthermore, he's earned a World Series ring with both the Dodgers and Braves.
Potential concerns: Pederson’s 25.6-percent strikeout rate is about three-percent above the MLB average. Perhaps this would be an issue for a Mariners team currently leading MLB in strikeouts.
This isn’t necessarily a “concern” as much as an opportunity to set expectations for Pederson’s role in an offense. He’s predominantly faced right-handed pitching during his career. The two-time World Series champion’s platoon splits reveal he’s experienced some success during limited confrontations against left-handed pitchers dating back to 2021. But it’s worth noting he’s delivered lower power numbers versus southpaws.
Pederson’s Platoon Splits (2021-24)
vs RHP
1,339 PA
4.5 HR%
.256 AVG
.342 OBP
.473 SLG
125 wRC+
vs LHP
234 PA
2.6 HR%
.240 AVG
.342 OBP
.375 SLG
103 wRC+
Pederson did make over 100 starts in left field and right field for San Francisco in 2022-23. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the minus-15 outs above average (OAA) he accrued during this two-year period ranked 125th of 128 qualified outfielders.
Thoughts: Pederson has a 23.8-percent strikeout rate during his career. Yet, he’s managed to be a productive hitter despite whiffing nearly one-quarter of the time. With this in mind, I wouldn’t expect Pederson’s high swing & miss to affect his ability to produce for any team, including the Mariners.
J.D. Martinez - Mets
Selling points: Martinez’s season got off to a late start. But since debuting with the Mets on April 26, the 36-year-old has continued to do what he’s always done - produce at the plate. Among hitters with 200-plus plate appearances, Martinez has the 20th-highest SLG and wRC+.
Even though he started a month late, Martinez would rank second on the Mariners in doubles behind Dylan Moore (14). The right-handed slugger would be tied for third in home runs with Luke Raley. And yes, he’d pace Seattle in the AVG, OBP, SLG, wOBA, and wRC+ categories.
One constant throughout Martinez’s career is his ability to crush baseballs. This year, the graduate of Charles W. Flanagan High School has the sixth-highest barrel rate (17.6-percent) in baseball. His 46.5-percent hard-hit rate is down about nine points from last season. But it’s still good enough to rank 53rd among 253 qualified hitters.
Martinez has also thrived during October baseball. In 33 games and 140 plate appearances encompassing nine postseason series, the three-time Silver Slugger has produced a .294 AVG/.386 OBP/.588 SLG slash-line. Martinez won his World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2018.
Potential concerns: Availability has to be mentioned when discussing a player on the wrong side of 35. In Rodriguez’s case, he was limited to 113 games with the Dodgers last season due to groin and back issues. His back also cost him time with Los Angeles in 2022.
This year, Martinez signed with New York about a week prior to Opening Day. The Nova Southeastern University product subsequently dealt with back issues when preparing for the season at the team’s Port St. Lucie, Florida facility in early April. As a result, he missed the first 25 games of the Mets’ season.
In 2023, Martinez had a 31.1-percent strikeout rate with Los Angeles, which was eight-highest among hitters with 450-plus plate appearances. The Floridian is currently whiffing at a 25.4-percent rate.
Martinez did make three cameo appearances in left field, including one start, with the Dodgers in 2023. But at this point in his career, he’s basically a full-time designated hitter. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But it’s important to set expectations when considering the six-time All-Star’s future with any club.
Thoughts: As with Pederson, Martinez’s strikeouts don’t concern me as they do with many Mariners. His whiffs aren’t hindering him from being an outstanding run producer - just like Pederson. The same can’t be said about Seattle hitters.
Justin Turner - Blue Jays
Selling points: Turner is a master of the strike zone. The 16-year veteran’s walk rate is 15th-best among qualified hitters, while his strikeout rate is 30th-lowest. Turner also continues to churn out doubles, as he’s done during every productive year of his long career.
Spending nine seasons with the Dodgers means Turner is also well-versed in postseason play. The 39-year-old appeared in 19 playoff series with Los Angeles, producing an .830 OPS in 368 October plate appearances. He also earned MVP honors during the 2017 NLCS against the Cubs.
Although he’s primarily served as Toronto’s designated hitter, Turner has started eight games at first base and another four at third base. As recently as last season, he started four games at second base for the Red Sox in addition to playing both corner infield spots.
Despite his advanced age, Turner has remained relatively available. In his previous three seasons, he’s averaged 142 contests annually. This year, the Reds’ seventh-round pick in 2006 has played in 86-percent of Blue Jays games.
Potential concerns: There’s a noticeable difference in Turner’s power depending on whether he’s at home or away. At Rogers Centre, the right-handed hitter has a .416 SLG. During 137 road plate appearances, he’s slugging considerably lower - .339.
Turner has also proven to be a bit more vulnerable to right-handed pitching this season. When facing righties, the Cal State Fullerton alum has a .347 SLG. Versus left-handers, he boasts a robust .473 SLG.
Even though Turner has largely avoided the injury bug, there are signs of regression in his numbers. Perhaps the easiest way to illustrate this decline is by using wRC+.
Turner’s Declining wRC+
2018 - 154
2019 - 131
2020 - 138
2021 - 126
2022 - 124
2023 - 114
2024 - 114
Thoughts: It’s understandable the oldest active position player in MLB would be experiencing age-related decline. Having said that, the 16-year veteran would lead the Mariners in OBP and tie with Raley for highest wRC+.
Still, it’s important to recognize that teams wouldn’t be getting the Justin Turner of old. Then again, the current version of Turner could still provide value to an underperforming lineup attempting to make a postseason push.
Barring injury or another unforeseen event, it appears unlikely the Mariners would be looking for a full-time designated hitter this summer. The team is already relying on a rotation of Mitch Garver, Mitch Haniger, and Cal Raleigh. Furthermore, Seattle’s DH position ranks relatively well with a ninth-ranked 123 WRC+.
Still, assuming that Mariners management wouldn’t pull the trigger on a trade for a designated hitter, or any position, wouldn’t align with maintaining an open mind. Besides, it’s more fun to talk about adding a J.D. Martinez, a Joc Pederson, or a Justin Turner than not talking about it.
My Oh My…