Internal, External Options For Mariners to Replace Ryan Bliss
The Seattle Mariners placed second baseman Ryan Bliss on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a biceps injury, but it’s going to be a lot longer than 10 days until we see the promising youngster back on the field.
Bliss will undergo surgery to repair a tear in his left biceps, and while the Mariners do expect a full recovery, the infielder has a recovery timeline of four to five months. That could place him back in September, but the most likely result is that Bliss will miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
It’s a big loss for the Mariners; a bigger one than could have been anticipated coming into the 2025 campaign. While he wasn’t outstanding at the plate- Bliss was hitting just .200 with a .596 OPS over 35 at bats - he was starting to hit the ball better with a homer and double in his last two games before the injury. He also had added a couple of steals, but the biggest loss here is Bliss’ glove. He made several spectacular plays up the middle and ranked in the 85th percentile of outs above average in his (admittedly small) sample at the keystone.
So, the Mariners need to figure out what to do at second base for the remainder of 2025. Let’s take a look at some internal options, but also some potential candidates to replace Bliss outside of the organization:
In-House Big League Options
Dylan Moore
The plan to open the season was to have Moore and Bliss platoon at second base, with Moore getting the starts against southpaws and Bliss against same-sided pitching. The Mariners could, in theory, just make Moore the regular there. He’s gotten off to a nice start with the bat — and proven that spring training numbers mean bupkis — with an OPS of .875, a pair of homers, and two steals over 32 plate appearances, and it’d be hard to argue that he’s not one of the nine best hitters on the Seattle Mariners right now.
But do the Mariners really want Moore to be an everyday option at one position? Based on how we’ve seen them use him since he joined the organization, the answer is no. There’s value in the 32-year old playing all over the field, and it’d be understandable if Seattle would prefer — even understanding that circumstances have very much changed — if he was used in the same capacity. He also has extreme platoon splits, and his profile doesn’t fit the Seattle park very well. It’s also worth noting that the Mariners may need Moore to play third base until Jorge Polanco shows that he’s healthy and more comfortable at the hot corner. It’s an option, but it’s maybe not as ideal as some may think.
Miles Mastrobuoni
Mastrobuoni played second base Wednesday with Dylan Moore needing to handle the hot corner, and had a solid day; going 2-for-4 and scoring a pair of runs in the final innings. Acquired by Seattle from the Cubs as a potential utility option, he’s more than capable of handling second from a defensive perspective.
But to put it bluntly, Mastrobuoni has not been an effective hitter at the highest level. Over a not-terribly-small sample of 272 plate appearances coming into the year with the Rays and Chicago, he’s slashed .291/.279/.263 with one homer and nine total extra-base hits in that timeframe. This is also not a young prospect who is looking for a chance, as Mastrobuoni is 29 years old, and there’s a reason he’s on his third organization in four seasons, and it’s not because those other teams were clamoring for him. Mastrobuoni serves a purpose. Starting at second isn’t among them.
In-House Minor League Optons
Cole Young
You can be honest: This was the name you wanted to see. And it’s easy to understand why. Young is one of the top prospects in the Seattle system, and those who have paid attention to rankings this winter know that’s not faint praise. He’s a 21-year old who gets rave reviews about his hit tools and plays solid defense at second base. He’s begun to tap into his power as well. This would be the upside play of those who are still in the organization.
But while the ceiling for Young is considerably higher than Moore and Mastrobuoni — with all due respect, of course — the floor is lower. For every Juan Soto or Julio Rodriguez who comes up and has immediate success at the highest level, there are plenty of others who need to adjust. And it’s worth pointing out that Young is hitting just .171 with Triple-A Tacoma, and only two of his hits have gone for extra bases so far. There’s no denying the potential reward based on the talent, but the risk is just as palpable. For 2025, anyway.
Outside of the Organization
Just a caveat: This is all speculation, and not at all — if any — of these players will be available, at least for a reasonable deal. That being said, there are some infielders who I think could make sense to replace Bliss outside of the organization.
Ramon Urias/Jorge Mateo, Baltimore Orioles
They’re two different players, but Urias and Mateo are both victims of the depth the Orioles possess in the infield. Urias in particular would be intriguing because he could play the hot corner well. While he’s not a great option with the stick, he’s posted an OPS+ above 100 (100 being average) in four of his five professional seasons. The Orioles would probably want a decent return for him, but he’d be a potential contributor for 2025 and 2026 before hitting free agency.
Mateo, on the other hand, hasn’t had nearly the same level of offensive success as Urias with a career .633 OPS, but he’s a terrific defender up the middle. He could help in the outfield as well and offers tremendous speed to boot. He’d also not likely cost as much and could be a stopgap until Seattle feels Young is ready.
Kyle Farmer, Colorado Rockies
It’s worth noting Seattle couldn’t make this deal until June 1, as Farmer was signed by the Rockies as a free agent this winter. But they’d certainly be willing to move the infielder in their never-ending rebuild. The 31-year old has swung the bat well in the early goings of 2025 with a .310/.344/.414 slash and his career OPS of .702 shows that he’s a decent — if far from elite — offensive player. The intrigue in adding a player like Farmer is that he offers versatility. He’s a former catching prospect who can play every infield spot and also handle the outfield. If Seattle wants to give the Moore/Mastrobuoni a try and doesn’t feel confident with Young by then, I think Farmer makes sense.
Willi Castro, Minnesota Twins
This would be my favorite option of the names discussed. Castro was brought up in trade rumors earlier this winter as the potential starting third baseman, and if Seattle felt more comfortable with him at the hot corner it would make sense. One way or another, the Mariners should be calling Minnesota to see if he’s available if they haven’t already. While not a world-beater with the bat, he does have a strong approach at the plate, and there’s just enough pop in his bat to suggest he could be a solid regular.
None of these options are going to be difference makers, but because of the injuries and another mediocre start, the Mariners need to explore all options. I wouldn’t hate seeing any of these four in Seattle this summer to help offset Bliss’ absence and potentially find a long-term option at second and/or third in the process.
