Through 13 games, the Seattle Mariners sit at a disappointing 4-9 on the season. Thought of as a World Series contender before the season, the M's are currently in last place in the American League West, and while they've pitched it well, they've been horrible at the plate - and in the field.

The Mariners enter play on Thursday with the lowest batting average in baseball (.184) and the second-most strikeouts. They have already been shut out three times in 13 games and each of their three best hitters are hitting under .160.

For bad measure, the M's defense has also been poor, with several errors and miscues leading to higher pitch counts and runs for opponents. The conversations around Brendan Donovan's move to third base and Randy Arozarena's defense are already getting louder.

Donovan had played 46 games at third base in his career before this season, and not extensively since 2022. His transition back has been rough, as he has four errors already on the campaign. Several other plays could have been made and haven't been, and he's not the only one struggling.

Let's take a look at the situation going on here.

The 31-year-old Arozarena has also struggled in left field, with at least five plays standing out as misplays in the first 13 games. At this juncture, he might very well be better suited for a designated hitter role.

However, as a veteran of almost 10 years, and as a guy in a contract year, is he really going to be receptive to moving to designated hitter? That's one uncomfortable conversation to be had.

The M's top prospect is knocking on the door of the big leagues and most Mariners fans thought his bat was going to be the thing that he provided first, but might it actually be his glove?

Donovan has played 163 career games in left field and might be best suited out there.

If Emerson came up to play third and the team moved Donovan to left and Arozarena to DH, that just might be the best alignment for this group.

But again, the conversation with Arozarena is going to be uncomfortable, and the conversation about Emerson is uncomfortable as well.

Does the team really want to bring him up at 20 years old with not even 50 games of experience above High-A ball? Is that setting him up for success or not? The team has to weigh the pros and cons of that.

We spoke to ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney on the most recent 'Refuse to Lose' podcast to talk about Donovan and how it might impact the Emerson side of things:

"I told you, I love the trade. He's a great player. He's going to be a good player for the Mariners. But I think the Mariners, in placing him at third base, based on his history, 47 (46) games before this year at that spot, they thought that this was something that was going to work out. Well, so far, not so much.

Bo Bichette played with Toronto. He's moved over to third base with the Mets. He's trying to do the same thing. Cal Ripken, Hall of Famer, he switched from short to third, and toward the end of his career, he really struggled going over there. Alex Rodriguez struggled going to third base. So I don't necessarily think it's a given that Brendan is going to get more comfortable over there."

The Mariners will play the Astros on Friday night at 6:40 p.m. PT. Emerson Hancock will toe the rubber at T-Mobile Park for the second time this season. He's allowed only earned run on the campaign.

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