Former Seattle Mariners Utility Player Dylan Moore Triggers Contract Opt-Out Clause, Enters 2024 MLB Free Agency
Key keywords: Dylan Moore, Seattle Mariners, opt-out clause, MLB utility player, 2024 MLB offseason, MLB free agency, infield depth, super utility player
After seven seasons with the Seattle Mariners, veteran utility player Dylan Moore has officially triggered the opt-out clause in his existing contract, league sources confirmed on Wednesday, making him one of the most versatile position players available in the 2024 MLB free agency pool. Moore, 32, originally signed a three-year, $14 million contract extension with the Mariners ahead of the 2022 season, which included a $5 million club option for the 2025 campaign. The opt-out clause, negotiated as part of that extension, allowed Moore to walk away from the final year of the deal if he met specified plate appearance thresholds over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, benchmarks he easily surpassed with 527 plate appearances across the two years.
Over the course of his Mariners tenure, Moore established himself as one of the league’s most reliable super utility assets, with proven experience at every defensive position except catcher and pitcher. He logged over 100 career games at second base, shortstop, third base, and left field, while also making spot starts in center field and right field when the roster was hit by injury. His 2024 campaign was the strongest of his career, as he posted a .262 batting average, .351 on-base percentage, .423 slugging percentage, 12 home runs, 21 stolen bases, and a 112 OPS+, all while posting positive defensive runs saved (DRS) marks at four different positions.
League analysts note that Moore’s decision to opt out is a low-risk, high-reward move, as the current free agency market lacks versatile, right-handed hitters with defensive flexibility across the infield and outfield. Multiple contending teams, including the Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and Atlanta Braves, have already publicly identified utility depth as a top offseason priority, and Moore is expected to draw interest from at least 10 teams in the coming weeks. Early contract projections suggest Moore could secure a two-year deal worth between $18 million and $22 million, a significant raise from the $5 million he would have earned with the Mariners in 2025. The Mariners issued a statement on Wednesday acknowledging Moore’s decision, thanking him for his contributions to the franchise over the past seven seasons and wishing him well in free agency. The team has already begun scouting alternative utility options to fill the gap left by Moore’s departure ahead of spring training 2025.
Featured Comments
As a lifelong Mariners fan, I’m absolutely gutted to see Dylan leave. He was the ultimate glue guy for our roster for years, always willing to fill in at literally any position when we had a wave of injuries. I totally get why he opted out though — he’s played well enough to earn way more than the $5 million option we had on him for next year. I just hope he lands somewhere that appreciates how valuable a reliable super utility player like him really is.
This is such a savvy business move from Moore and his agent. The market for flexible, right-handed role players is red hot this offseason, especially with so many contending teams hunting for bench depth that can contribute both defensively and at the plate. I wouldn’t be surprised if he locks down a 2-year, $20 million deal, which is more than triple what he would have made staying in Seattle. He earned every penny of that raise.
The Red Sox front office needs to be all over this guy immediately. We had zero reliable backup infielders last season, and Moore can play second, short, third, and even corner outfield if we need him to. His plate discipline and base running would be a perfect fit for our lineup off the bench, and every report I’ve seen says he’s a great clubhouse presence too. Sign him before another contender snatches him up.
As a Giants fan, I’ve been begging our front office to pick up a player like Moore for months. Our infield depth was a disaster last year, and we desperately need someone who can cover for injuries to our middle infielders without being a total black hole at the plate. He’d be an immediate upgrade to our roster, and he’s the exact type of low-cost, high-impact signing we need to compete next season.