The Mariners are up next in our team-by-team Trade Deadline Outlook series. Seattle last made the postseason in 2022 and has had numerous near misses in recent years under president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander. The Mariners' vaunted young rotation has long been the talk of baseball, but the M's also have an excellent farm system they can leverage to improve the roster over the next three weeks.
Record: 49-45 (Playoff probability 61.4%, per FanGraphs)
Other series entries: Rockies, Giants, Phillies, Pirates, Astros, Marlins, Athletics, Orioles, White Sox, Nationals, Cubs, Rays, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Angels, Mets, Blue Jays
Buy Mode
Potential Needs: First base, third base, late-inning reliever
The Mariners needed offense throughout the winter but were afforded little to no financial resources to make it happen. Dipoto and Hollander dealt with substantial payroll restrictions for a second straight winter, reportedly trying to stretch a budget of about $15-16MM to acquire as many as three different bats. The resulting additions -- Jorge Polanco, Rowdy Tellez, Donovan Solano -- haven't paid off much. Polanco has been quite productive but has been relegated to DH duty for much of the season due to injuries. Tellez was released last month. Solano has hit better over the past five weeks or so but has been a liability for most of the year.
On top of those underwhelming additions, the M's have been plagued by injuries. Victor Robles suffered a shoulder injury that'll cost him more than half the season. Luke Raley missed more than a month with an oblique injury. Second baseman Ryan Bliss ruptured his biceps in April and will likely miss the remainder of the season.
Fortunately for the Mariners' baseball operations staff, it seems ownership has come around on spending to further bolster the lineup. It's not clear just how far north they're willing to take payroll, but even a relatively modest increase could be a boon for a club that could clearly use help at two corner spots. So, where can the Mariners turn?
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I would finally trade 3-4 top 100 prospects (except Ford) plus either major league ready pitchers Hancock or Evans included. Polanco a must to be included FOR
Suarez & J Naylor.
You would trade that much for 2 rentals..thank god you aren’t the gm
I would give up Ford for Suarez and Naylor along with Hancock and 1 or 2 lower end prospects. Ford is blocked by Cal. I know that after this season Garver is gone and Ford will replace him but I don’t think Ford wants to play backup to Cal for 4 years..
Well it’s not like Ford is meaningfully less blocked in Arizona behind Gabby Moreno.
At the end of the day, Geno + Naylor should be like a Locklear, Peete and McGraw type deal (maybe you could justify swapping Peete and Celesten). Neither Geno or Naylor are clear cut QO candidates and both would be more likely to be post 2nd round compensation (below $50M contract), rather than 1st round compensation. Therefore, getting 3 2nd round caliber talents is a reasonable return.
Probably locklear and maybe Ben Williamson too with Emerson Hancock could get a deal done
I’d be sad to let Ben go, unless we know 100% we are going to bring Geno back next year.
I don’t think Hancock is more than a throw in in terms of value at this point. I think he has more value to as someone familiar with our system and willing to be a 6th man than going to a new team.
Geno is the only 3B option who would make sense. McMahon is just a more expensive Williamson (if we weren’t willing to pay Geno’s contract there is no world they take on even half of the $38M owed to McMahon).
However, I expect him to be traded to the Yankees or Tigers if he gets moved. The Mariners have the prospects to win a bidding war, but they don’t have the team to justify it for a half season rental (in particular, when the division is all but out of reach).
1B and/or DH (Polo hasn’t been very good since May 1st) are the prime options and most of the options there should be had for lesser prospects.
Did the author really just write that management was “dealt with substantial payroll restrictions for the second straight year”??? How about 10 straight years. How about “consistently dealing with substantial payroll restrictions” for like… EVER! This wimpy ownership ALWAYS fails to do their part when this team needs upgrades to truly take advantage of their window of opportunity. %£€¥ or get off the pot!
“second straight year”… freakin kidding me.
The franchise is a cash cow run like a business. On average, MLB franchises appreciate 12% every year. Only 1/3 teams spend to win. Casual M’s fans won’t stay away so NOTHING will change. Get used to it, or switch to a team that spends to your liking. Even if ownership sold, odds are another business person would run the franchise to to maximize profits.
ESPN said we are the front runners to acquire Ronald acuna Jr! Let’s give the braves the entire farm system so they can become the nationals and we can have Mr shaky knees
I’d do it. It’s the only way we are going to acquire an MVP level player, unless Emerson or Montes can get to that level.
I’d trade Julio Rodriguez for him straight up.
Rodriguez isn’t worth a handful of beans
All the discussions and comments about Mariners trading WILL BE dead in the water because the Mariners will be sellers instead. All RPs suck, besides Munoz and Brash. Hitting still sucks, except JP and Cal. SPs are not like last year. Defense sucks, except J-Rod, Cal and Williamson.
This needs a downvote button.
Randy has been excellent as a bat. Speier has been elite in the bullpen.
The SPs are finally getting healthy as a group. Only Woo and Castillo haven’t dealt with injuries and they’ve been great. A healthy Kirby and Gilbert down the stretch is transformative.
the M’s still seem on track to miss the playoffs by a game. Again
That is definitely a real possibility. However, you don’t pivot to selling if you are that close.
Harrison Ford is not gonna hit for avg in the majors; he doesn’t play 2B or the OF well enough to only be a backup for Cal when he isn’t playing 5 games a year. Lazaro Montes is a poor man Yordan Alvarez; in a lineup without protection he’s not going to hit either.
Trade the both of them now while there’s still time.
Laz has hit better than Yordan did at the same age and has Cal level power.
Ford’s OF experiment lasted 10 games after he was recovering from a concussion. I firmly expect him to be able to pick up another position or two (likely RF, LF and 1B based on his athleticism and arm strength).
He is a great athlete but lacks the size for first base. Only 5 ft 10 and 200 lbs.
I think Ford could hit .240+, which is really good for a catcher. His best skill is his ability to get on base.
You have the wrong Julio Rodriguez linked in the article Steve.