Could veteran utility player Dylan Moore return to the Seattle Mariners? 

Based on recent happenings, it's possible.

Per Will Sammon of The Athletic:

Veteran INFer/OFer Dylan Moore is triggering his opt-out clause, league sources said. The Phillies will have 48 hours to add him to the 40-man roster. Otherwise, he is set to be a free agent on Saturday. Clubs with injury concerns like Astros, Mets, Orioles could show interest.

You can add the Mariners to that list as well. J.P. Crawford is currently battling a shoulder issue that has sidelined him for most of the spring.

Let's examine all angles to this:

Crawford, the longest-tenured member of the Mariners, has played just seven games this spring. Only three of them have been at shortstop. Though structurally everything checks out, Crawford just visited Dr. Keith Meister, never a good sign. He had an injection in his shoulder and though nothing is seriously wrong, he might not be ready for Opening Day, giving the M's the potential need for a contingency plan.

The Mariners could opt to bring top prospect Colt Emerson up to take Crawford's spot, but that may not be the best idea since he's played just 40 games above High-A. Also, what happens when Crawford is ready to come back?

The Mariners could start Leo Rivas while Crawford is out, but who gets the bench infield spot that Rivas was set to occupy?

It could be Ryan Bliss, who also hasn't gotten a full spring workload in - and there are also questions about his ability to play shortstop or third base. It could be Miles Mastrobuoni, but he's battling a calf issue suffered in the World Baseball Classic.

So, could the team sign Moore to give themselves some depth off the bench who can also play shortstop?

Now 33 years old, Moore spent 2019-25 with the M's, becoming an integral part of the team's roster. He won the Gold Glove Award for his utility work in 2024 and also hit 61 homers in seven seasons with the Mariners. Though his career batting average in Seattle was just .205, his defensive versatility, power and speed (116 stolen bases in Seattle) made him an ideal bench player.

It was only until his offense cratered in 2025 that the team moved on after 88 games. He latched on with the Texas Rangers for the final 18, hitting a more respectable .259.

Unfortunately, he's hitting only .172 this spring in Philly.

In a perfect world, the Mariners would have a backup infielder who is right-handed and can play shortstop, so Moore makes sense.

However, the offensive profile has been subpar for more than a calendar year at this point. To me, keeping Rivas as the starter, with Mastrobuoni or Bliss on the bench, is best. The shortstop concerns are fair, but I'd like to think that Brendan Donovan or Cole Young can handle things should anything happen to Rivas in a specific game.

If Crawford and Rivas both end up injured at the same time and both have to hit the IL, there's a chance Moore could still be a free agent. I'd be interested at that point in a reunion.

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