Mariners urged to trade for $87.5 million Red Sox slugger to fix major offensive problem

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The Seattle Mariners have been going through some struggles recently, as they've lost a few games to now tied with the Texas Rangers atop the AL West.

This team was one game from the World Series a year ago, and now, despite seemingly having a better roster, they're at risk of missing the playoffs if they can't get things right. If there's one issue with this team, it would be their offense against left-handed pitching.

It's such an issue that ESPN's David Schoenfield is urging the Mariners to swing a blockbuster trade for .906 OPS, and $87.5 million first baseman Willson Contreras of the Boston Red Sox. It would be a huge deal, but a big help to fix a problem for Seattle.

Mariners urged to trade for Willson Contreras from Red Sox

"The Marienrs have a hole bigger than the crater atop Mount St. Helens: They can't hit left-handed pitching," Schoenfield writes. "... Contreras would provide a much-needed right-handed bat, displacing Rob Refsnyder and sharing DH/first base duties with Josh Naylor."

Seattle needs to find a way to improve the offense this season, and a trade for a star slugger makes the most sense.

It won't come cheap, as Contreras might be one of the more expensive trade targets the Mariners could pursue this summer.

But, if the Red Sox are selling (which isn't a guarantee), Contreras would be their best trade target possible. The reason is simple: he's a good hitter who fits on the Mariners roster nicely, who also happens to hit lefty pitching well.

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He is a 34-year-old slugger who is under club control through the 2028 season, and so far this season has a .906 OPS with 18 homers and a .283 batting average.

If there were a player the Mariners could justify splurging on, it would be Contreras. Not many good right-handed hitters will be available for trade this summer, but if Contreras could be had, Seattle should pounce.

He has a .939 OPS against left-handed pitching, which fits what the Mariners need perfectly. Schoenfield's urging the Mariners to trade for Contreras makes a ton of sense, as he'd be about as good a trade pickup as Seattle could make this year.