The Seattle Mariners are in the market for more infield help this winter in the wake of losing Jorge Polanco to the New York Mets and Eugenio Suarez remaining a free agent.
They could go out and re-sign Suarez, but the Mariners are seemingly targeting other options, and specifically, a second baseman from the St. Louis Cardinals, in Brendan Donovan. That market has ground to a halt, but now it might pick back up.
MLB insider Jon Morosi mentioned how the Chicago Cubs signing Alex Bregman to a $175 million, five-year contract is expected to open up the trade market for infield help, which, for the Mariners, is some very welcome news.
Mariners get good news amid Bregman deal
"Alex Bregman to the Cubs has a number of implications," Morosi writes. "Shaw or Hoerner being in play could jolt what's become a sleepy Brendan Donovan trade market. The Giants and Mariners are among the teams that have spoken with the Cardinals on Donovan."
With the Cubs landing Bregman, the rest of the infield market can begin falling into place. Donovan might become a hot topic in trade rumors, as could Matt Shaw or Nico Hoerner.
In free agency, Bo Bichette is expected to be the next to sign, and once he's on a new team, Suarez's market could heat up this winter as well.
More: Cubs' Alex Bregman contract details involve $175 million, five years
For Seattle, seeing the market ramp up is good news. They're interested in Donovan, being one of the frontrunners for the Cardinals Gold Glover earlier this winter.
But after the market cooled down, the Mariners were forced to be patient with the market. Fortunately, the Bregman signing is set to ignite the offseason discussions around infielders, and more moves could be coming soon, thanks to the biggest domino falling.
Seattle needs to address its infield, and now, such a move looks a bit more likely thanks to the Cubs igniting the free agent and trade market with their $175 million contract for Bregman this winter.
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