MLB Rumors: Mariners Linked To Orioles Outfielder

Despite already bringing in Teoscar Hernandez in an offseason trade, the Seattle Mariners are still pursuing another offensive boost for their outfield. 

MLB Insider Jon Morosi joined Seattle sports radio 710 AM, on The Wyman and Bob Show, and said the Mariners are not only a leading candidate to pry Pittsburgh Pirates star Bryan Reynolds loose, but he also said to keep an eye on Baltimore Orioles' outfielder Anthony Santander as a Seattle target. 

Santander has been heavily mentioned in trade rumors since the end of the season, as a means of the O's dealing from an offensive strength to acquire more pitching. And we do know that the M's are flush with starting pitching. 

If Reynolds is option 1, I think Anthony Santander is option 1a and is probably a better fit for what Seattle has to offer.

— Gabe_Storm (@Gabe_Storm) December 30, 2022

The 28-year-old Santander is under team control for two more years, so there's certainly no urgency for the Orioles to trade him. And O's GM Mike Elias isn't anxious to let him go, either. “[Santander’s] been a popular guy with other teams since I’ve been here, but look, we like him,” said Elias. “He can play a really solid right field, he’s great in the clubhouse. A switch-hitting DH, he goes well with Adley [Rutschman] in the middle of the lineup and the other guys that we have coming.

“So we see no real strategy in moving him, and I’m excited he’s coming back for the next two years. But, you know, obviously we do our jobs and we listen to people.”

Santander, a 6-year veteran, blasted 33 HR this past season, with 89 RBIs, and a .773 OPS (117 OPS+).

Morosi dropped one more possibility on the Mariners' radar, Jurickson Profar. He's a free agent, coming off a pretty decent season with the San Diego Padres, where he posted an OPS+ of 111 (11% better than league average).

Photo: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports