The General Manager meetings in Las Vegas wrapped up Thursday, November 12, and the chatter around the league is heating up. Right here in the Emerald City, the biggest news for us is the Mariners showing some serious interest in free agent left fielder Ian Happ. This isn’t just a casual glance either. Our team has a big hole to fill in left field with Randy Arozarena hitting free agency, and let’s be real, we desperately need to upgrade our offense for the upcoming season.
Mariners’ Target: Ian Happ’s Bat & Glove
So, who is Ian Happ? He’s 32, spent his entire 10-year MLB career with the Cubs, who drafted him way back in 2015. What makes him interesting for the M’s? Well, from 2022-25, he was a pretty consistent force, averaging 3.9 WAR with a .251/.347/.433 line and an impressive 118 OPS+. Oh, and he snagged *four* Gold Gloves in that stretch. That’s a serious glove, folks. Last season, his numbers did dip a bit, going down to .218/.326/.412 (103 OPS+) with 2.7 WAR. But even with that dip, he still cracked 20 home runs for the fifth time in the last six years. That kind of power, coupled with elite defense, could be a real game-changer for T-Mobile Park, especially given our clear need for a boost at the plate and a steady hand in the outfield. Could he be the answer for our left field vacancy? We sure hope so.
Hot Stove Buzz: Beyond the Emerald City
While our focus is squarely on the M’s, there’s plenty of other action around the league. Yesterday, the Yankees were reportedly hot on the trail of free agent first/third baseman Alec Bohm, and now The Athletic is saying the Mets have jumped into the fray, too. Bohm didn’t have a stellar last season, hitting .249/.315/.383 with 15 home runs and 88 RBI, clocking in at -0.2 WAR. But he did finish strong, hitting .318/.402/.453 in his final 42 games. Seems the Mets are desperate for help at the cold corner after their “disastrous Jorge Polanco experiment,” and Jared Young, who showed some promise at first, suffered a concussion in September.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota, catcher Ryan Jeffers got a qualifying offer from the Twins. He’s got until next Tuesday to decide if he’s taking the one-year, $23.15 million deal, but the Minnesota Star-Tribune reports he’s likely to decline it. Don’t count him out of Minnesota though, as the Twins are still eyeing a multi-year deal to bring him back. Jeffers put up a great line for a catcher in 2026: .256/.353/.461 with 14 home runs, even after missing several months with a broken hamate. The Twins also have some catching prospects, including Vahn Lackey, their No. 3 pick from last year, and Eduardo Tait, who came over in the Jhoan Duran trade. And around the league, the Rays are apparently looking to take advantage of what’s being called a weak free agent class.
For us here in Seattle, the big question remains: can we land Ian Happ? With the GM meetings wrapped up, the “hot stove” is truly on fire, and we’ll be watching closely to see if our Mariners can make a move that brings that Gold Glove and 20-homer pop to T-Mobile Park.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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