Seattle Mariners Could Sign Slugger to Counter Astros Ace

Late in the 2023 season, it looked like the Houston Astros were actually in danger of missing the playoffs after losing a stretch of games at home.

However, they were able to take advantage of the Seattle Mariners, which helped them win their sixth AL West division title in seven years. They were then able to make their seventh straight American League Championship Series.

The Astros are expected to be fairly idle this offseason as their roster is mostly solidified with multiple stars locked in for 2024.

However, that won't stop other teams from trying to upgrade their rosters to try and take down the perennial division champions.

The Mariners have been linked by Andy McCullough of The Athletic to slugger Tommy Pham.

"He dealt with a case of turf toe that limited his mobility, but is still a solid runner and fielder when healthy. His presence would aid the club against left-handed pitchers, too," he writes.

That screams batting help against Houston's ace, Framber Valdez ,who has absolutely terrorized Seattle.

In 12 appearances and 10 starts, the left-hander has a 5-1 record with a 3.00 ERA. He's struck out 71 batters across 66 innings and has only given up two home runs against the Mariners throughout his career.

Pham against left-handed pitching in 2023 recorded a slash line of .245/.322/.465 with nine home runs and 22 RBI in 152 at-bats.

He would certainly give Seattle a better option in countering an Astros weapon that has dominated them for the past six seasons.

While Houston would still have the overall advantage on paper, this type of move would highlight how other teams in the division will attempt to make things difficult so the Astros don't continue their reign.