Last year about this time, we here at Mission Mariner offered our take on who Jack Zduriencik and the Mariners should be targeting as the trade deadline neared.  That player was young Miami Marlins center fielder Marcell Ozuna.

At the time, Ozuna was slashing a .276/.323/.463, 15 homeruns, a 117 wRC+, and putting up solid defense with a DRS of 9.  With highly touted Jake Marisnick knocking on the centerfield door, it was a prime opportunity to nab someone whom we felt could be the next Carlos Gomez.

But instead, the Mariners dealt for the Tiger’s Austin Jackson and, well, we all know how that has worked out.  Not that Jackson has been horrible, but he has been far from the player that he was when he was with the Tigers.  And with Jackson set to leave as a free agent at the end of the year, and with no MLB-ready prospects in the pipeline to take over, the Mariners will soon find themselves in the exact situation they were in heading into the 2014 season.

Luckily, sometimes life gives you second chances.  And for the Mariners, they may have a second chance at Ozuna.

On July 5^th, Ozuna was sent down to the Marlins Triple A affiliate after falling into a slump that saw him go from a .289/.362/.439 on May 11^th, to just a .249/.301/.337 just 48 games later. (a .224/.260/.273 over that 48 game stretch).  And recent reports have now surfaced indicating the Marlins may be willing to deal Ozuna for young pitching.

Around this time last year, we suggested a package of Taijuan Walker and D.J. Peterson for Ozuna.  With Ozuna’s recent struggles, perhaps a straight Walker for Ozuna could get the deal done?

While Ozuna’s recent struggles may warrant some reasonable questioning, the fact is that all young players go through slumps.  For most, it’s a natural progression. Ozuna has already had success at the MLB level, and it should be expected that he will continue to do so.  Last year, we also advocated that the Mariners look into the young and talented – yet struggling – Aaron Hicks.  All Hicks has done this year is bounce back by providing solid defense and a .299/.364/.437 as the Twins’ center fielder.

There’s no reason not to believe Ozuna won’t get back to the 3.7 WAR player that he was last year.

The other day we suggested that the best trade deadline move for the Mariners was to do nothing.  But second chances don’t come around often.  As such, Zduriencik would be a fool not to grab this one while he can.