Report: Mariners may target Duda, Moreland this winter

With their league-leading playoff drought poised to extend at least one more year, the Seattle Mariners will once again have some serious work to do this offseason, and it seems getting a new first baseman is among their top priorities.

With incumbent Yonder Alonso poised to hit the open market at season's end, the Mariners - despite having Dan Vogelbach - appear inclined to replace him through free agency, and are thought to like Lucas Duda and possibly Mitch Moreland, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

Duda, the longtime New York Mets slugger traded to Tampa Bay in July, put up another solid season in 2017, managing 1.2 WAR with an .832 OPS while smacking 29 homers in 120 games between the Mets and Rays. Since 2014, only 11 first basemen have been more valuable than Duda, who has hit .240/.339/.482 (125 OPS+) while averaging 23 homers and 24 doubles per season over that span.

Moreland, meanwhile, hasn't been quite as impressive in his first season with the Boston Red Sox, putting up 0.8 WAR with a .755 OPS and 19 home runs in 140 games. A Gold Glove winner in 2016, his defense at first base remains strong, as the 32-year-old ranks fifth at his position with eight defensive runs saved.

Duda isn't eligible to receive a qualifying offer, but if Moreland rejects such an offer from the Red Sox and then signs with Seattle, the Mariners - as a revenue-sharing recipient - would forfeit their third-highest pick in the 2018 MLB draft.