Could the Seattle Mariners be looking to Alex Bregman as their answer at 2B?

The position the Seattle Mariners need the most this offseason is clear: second base.

And suddenly there’s a new potential option at that position in free agency.

Keith Law on Mariners: A big free agent and trade partner who fits

Buckle up, because this game could require the Mariners to do a complete 180-degree change in how they approach players.

Alex Bregman, a longtime nemesis of the Mariners as an All-Star-caliber member of the Houston Astros, is not only a free agent, but the longtime third baseman is also ready to move to second base following elbow surgery, according to his agent, Scott Boras.

Could the Mariners actually be trying to sign a player who is anything but a fan favorite in Seattle? On Wednesday’s edition of Seattle Sports’ “Wyman and Bob,” MLB Network insider Jon Morosi answered the question.

“I would imagine the Mariners will try,” Morosi said.

That being said, Morosi expects the M’s to have some things not working in their favor when it comes to Bregman.

For starters, as a member of the 2017 Houston team that used technology to steal signs from other teams en route to the World Series title, Bregman has heard his fair share of boos over the years when the Astros took over T-Mobile Park visited in Seattle.

“He, along with (Jose) Altuve, has had to bear the brunt of criticism dating back to the sign-stealing scandal,” Morosi said. “Players who have moved on or gone elsewhere don’t seem to get booed as much as those who stayed in the Houston jersey. So that’s many years of Alex hearing boos in Seattle.

“We understand that Johnny Damon sometimes moved from the Red Sox to the Yankees. So if that can happen, anything can happen. But I think that could be kind of a hindrance.”

However, according to Morosi, putting on a Mariners uniform isn’t the biggest obstacle for Bregman. As a two-time All-Star who had just his fifth career season with at least 20 home runs while also winning his first career Gold Glove at third base, Bregman should have a robust market. And that’s never good news for the Mariners when they pursue hitters in free agency because their ballpark has a reputation for negatively impacting the offense.

“For me, the bigger obstacle here is that we’ve seen a lot of players go to Seattle — Mitch Garver is a recent example as a free agent — and not have great years,” Morosi said. “Are you putting too much pressure on yourself now? Don’t like the batting backdrop? There are many different theories here as to why that is, and we’ve already analyzed them on this show, but the reality is that the perception is there. And what happened, whether it was Garver or (Jorge) Polanco (in 2024), didn’t help that situation.”

Morosi expects the Mariners to make necessary offensive improvements this offseason, whether or not they bring in Bregman.

“I’m sure the Mariners will be part of that conversation because of their need at the infield positions… (but the ballpark effect) is a real thing for a player. And so I think for some of those reasons it’s going to be a little difficult for the Mariners to maybe win the tender for Bregman,” he said. “But at the end of the day, you look down on other players who might be a better fit for your baseball team or a better fit for your ball club or better priced, and I have a lot of confidence in the front office that the lineup from one through nine will be deeper than it was back then . “The season is over.”

Listen to the full conversation between Wyman and Bob with MLB Network Insider Jon Morosi on the podcast at this link or in the player at the top of this post. Morosi is a weekly guest on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob, which airs weekdays from 2 to 7 p.m.

More Seattle Mariners offseason coverage

• Free Agency: Seattle has “closely evaluated” the Korean infielder, according to report.
• Which notable former Mariners are free agents this offseason?
• Mariners’ Cal Raleigh provides injury status update
• Mariners’ Mitch Haniger refuses to opt out of contract
• Two Seattle Mariners win American League Gold Glove Awards

Follow @BrentStecker