How is the team going to get more right handed?

[GL_Storm]

I asked Gemini if Sato can actually play 3rd base. I don't care that he hits left handed as much as I care that he can actually play the position at something like an average defensive level in MLB.

Is Teruaki Sato a capable defensive third baseman?

Teruaki Sato is best described as an athletic, mixed-bag defensive third baseman. While he has the raw physical tools to make elite, dynamic plays, consistency and accuracy issues keep him from being considered a truly polished defensive infielder.

Strengths
Arm Strength: Possesses an elite, high-velocity arm that allows him to make deep throws from the hole and deep behind third base with ease.
NamuWiki

Range & Athleticism: Stans at 6'2" and 205+ lbs with surprising speed, giving him above-average ground coverage and quick reaction times on hot shots down the line.
MLB.com

Versatility: Has extensive experience playing both corner outfield (right field) and third base, allowing managers flexibility in alignment.
World Baseball Network

Weaknesses
Throwing Accuracy: His biggest defensive liability is errant throws. His internal clock and arm-slot consistency can lead to high error totals.

Inconsistency: Advanced metrics generally grade his hot-corner defense as below average to neutral. While he won a Central League Mitsui Golden Glove Award, scouting evaluations place him closer to an "adequate" defender who gets by on raw physical traits rather than refined footwork and soft hands.
World Baseball Network

Because of his elite hitting profile, MLB scouts evaluate him similarly to other power-hitting corner infielders: his defense is capable enough to stay at third base, but a transition to right field or first base remains a realistic long-term outcome if the throwing errors persist.
NamuWiki

[harmony]

To improve defensively, whom could the Mariners offer to the Tampa Bay Rays for switch-hitting infielder Taylor Walls, righthand-hitting outfielder Jonny DeLuca and righty reliever Evan Reifert?

This year the Mariners rank a distant last in MLB by many defensive metrics:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... e=&month=0

... while ranking fifth in the American League in wRC+:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... th=0&lg=al

In fact the Mariners top the American League in wRC+ since August 15, 2024, when Edgar Martinez joined the Seattle staff:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... 1000&lg=al

The Mariners can hope that Michael Arroyo, Lazaro Montes, Colt Emerson and others can replace the offensive production of Randy Arozarena and J.P. Crawford while Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor regress upward toward their career norms.

In short, the Mariners have a greater opportunity to improve defensively than offensively.

The Rays might be willing to trade the final year of team control over the 30-year-old Walls with the exercise of a 2027 team option for $3.1 million (instead of a $50,000 buyout). Wall's fine defense at shortstop provides insurance against Emerson's potentially late arrival. The 28-year-old DeLuca's touted glove in the outfield offers a cushion against the development of Arroyo and Montes.

The 27-year-old Reifert is simply an interesting arm knocking on the MLB door:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/regi ... ifer000eva

https://rayscoloredglasses.com/1-rays-m ... kgqccatm5t

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/rays-prospe ... ut-slider/

So much for thoughts to fill a day when laid up with an injury.

[D-train]

To improve defensively, whom could the Mariners offer to the Tampa Bay Rays for switch-hitting infielder Taylor Walls, righthand-hitting outfielder Jonny DeLuca and righty reliever Evan Reifert?

This year the Mariners rank a distant last in MLB by many defensive metrics:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... e=&month=0

... while ranking fifth in the American League in wRC+:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... th=0&lg=al

In fact the Mariners top the American League in wRC+ since August 15, 2024, when Edgar Martinez joined the Seattle staff:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... 1000&lg=al

The Mariners can hope that Michael Arroyo, Lazaro Montes, Colt Emerson and others can replace the offensive production of Randy Arozarena and J.P. Crawford while Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor regress upward toward their career norms.

In short, the Mariners have a greater opportunity to improve defensively than offensively.

The Rays might be willing to trade the final year of team control over the 30-year-old Walls with the exercise of a 2027 team option for $3.1 million (instead of a $50,000 buyout). Wall's fine defense at shortstop provides insurance against Emerson's potentially late arrival. The 28-year-old DeLuca's touted glove in the outfield offers a cushion against the development of Arroyo and Montes.

The 27-year-old Reifert is simply an interesting arm knocking on the MLB door:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/regi ... ifer000eva

https://rayscoloredglasses.com/1-rays-m ... kgqccatm5t

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/rays-prospe ... ut-slider/

So much for thoughts to fill a day when laid up with an injury.

regress upward is such a dolt cumbersome phrasing. Its simply progress to the mean.

[GL_Storm]

To improve defensively, whom could the Mariners offer to the Tampa Bay Rays for switch-hitting infielder Taylor Walls, righthand-hitting outfielder Jonny DeLuca and righty reliever Evan Reifert?

This year the Mariners rank a distant last in MLB by many defensive metrics:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... e=&month=0

... while ranking fifth in the American League in wRC+:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... th=0&lg=al

In fact the Mariners top the American League in wRC+ since August 15, 2024, when Edgar Martinez joined the Seattle staff:

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major ... 1000&lg=al

The Mariners can hope that Michael Arroyo, Lazaro Montes, Colt Emerson and others can replace the offensive production of Randy Arozarena and J.P. Crawford while Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor regress upward toward their career norms.

In short, the Mariners have a greater opportunity to improve defensively than offensively.

The Rays might be willing to trade the final year of team control over the 30-year-old Walls with the exercise of a 2027 team option for $3.1 million (instead of a $50,000 buyout). Wall's fine defense at shortstop provides insurance against Emerson's potentially late arrival. The 28-year-old DeLuca's touted glove in the outfield offers a cushion against the development of Arroyo and Montes.

The 27-year-old Reifert is simply an interesting arm knocking on the MLB door:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/regi ... ifer000eva

https://rayscoloredglasses.com/1-rays-m ... kgqccatm5t

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/rays-prospe ... ut-slider/

So much for thoughts to fill a day when laid up with an injury.

regress upward is such a dolt cumbersome phrasing. Its simply progress to the mean.

"Positive regression" is the correct term.

[bpj]

Unless they get a new President and GM they'll do it using weak platoons.

They most likely look at all those lefties as the perfect pallette to add some bench righties to the mix and call it a day.

Just give us a new Refsnyder and a backup catcher, what more could we ask for?

[harmony]

MLB Trade Rumors analyzes the future of righthand-hitting third baseman Jordan Westburg:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/ ... l#comments

Would anyone trade right-hander Bryce Miller for Westburg in a swap of childhood friends and high school teammates?

https://www.mlb.com/news/bryce-miller-j ... eague-game

Westburg and Miller each come with three years of team control but Miller should be more expensive after gaining Super Two status last offseason. Westburg has a projected 2027 salary of $1.5 million while Miller has a projected salary of $3.9 million (assuming the Mariners pay the $15,000 buyout of the $6.075 million club option for 2027).

[D-train]

Can't believe Miller's value is so low...

[Seattle or Bust]

Can't believe Miller's value is so low...

Screenshot 2026-10-04 201150.png

Seems very off.

Their model takes injuries way too far. As soon as a guy get hurts his value craters.

That said, Westburg has almost never been healthy. I'm not sure what he's done to have double the value of Miller in their model who has been way healthier and provided similar production. Especially considering they're both free agents in 2030.

Hell, Westburg didn't even play in 2026. The model is fucked.

[D-train]

Can't believe Miller's value is so low...

Screenshot 2026-10-04 201150.png

Seems very off.

Their model takes injuries way too far. As soon as a guy get hurts his value craters.

That said, Westburg has almost never been healthy. I'm not sure what he's done to have double the value of Miller in their model who has been way healthier and provided similar production. Especially considering they're both free agents in 2030.

Hell, Westburg didn't even play in 2026. The model is fucked.

It is usually pretty good but I agree.

That being said Miller has put up only 0.9 fWAR since the end of 2024 in 39 starts. Horrible.

Westburg has put up 4.6 in 2024-25 not great but much better...

[Seattle or Bust]

Can't believe Miller's value is so low...

Screenshot 2026-10-04 201150.png

Seems very off.

Their model takes injuries way too far. As soon as a guy get hurts his value craters.

That said, Westburg has almost never been healthy. I'm not sure what he's done to have double the value of Miller in their model who has been way healthier and provided similar production. Especially considering they're both free agents in 2030.

Hell, Westburg didn't even play in 2026. The model is fucked.

It is usually pretty good but I agree.

That being said Miller has put up only 0.9 fWAR since the end of 2024 in 39 starts. Horrible.

Westburg has put up 4.6 in 2024-25 not great but much better...

I'm not in love with fWAR when it comes to pitchers.

Their model is obsessed with K's/9 where I value run prevention a bit more.

Even so, Miller put up 1.3 bWAR and a 4.17 ERA over 22 games. That's about 2 bWAR over a standard 30 starts. To me that's a lot more value than MLBTV is presenting for Miller given the fact that only 90 pitchers in baseball had more than 2 WAR.