With their division lead reaching as high as 10 games this month, the Seattle Mariners find themselves in a strong and unfamiliar position as the MLB season nears its midpoint.
The Mariners’ Under-the-Radar Trade Deadline Need
The Mariners currently hold a comfortable lead atop the AL West, but there’s still a lot of season left to play. To maintain their position and make a deep postseason run, the Mariners are likely to add pieces before the July 30 trade deadline. This need is underscored by the potential return of Cy Young winners Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers, and the threat posed by the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians in a possible playoff matchup.
Fortunately for Seattle, their farm system is well-stocked, giving them the flexibility to be aggressive buyers at the deadline. The key question is how much of their prospect talent they are willing to trade and which players they should consider shopping.
Senior MLB writer Will Sammon of The Athletic discussed the Mariners’ trade deadline strategy with Bob Stelton and Dave Wyman on Seattle Sports’ “Wyman and Bob.”
“People expect the Mariners to make a push for offensive help,” Sammon said. “Rival clubs and evaluators believe the team will address this need.”
Where the Mariners Can Trade From
Sammon highlighted the Mariners’ “fascinating case” due to their loaded farm system and the significant homegrown talent on their roster. Seattle has seven players in Baseball America’s latest top-100 prospect list, including six position players.
The Mariners have a surplus of talent in the middle infield, with several players capable of playing shortstop in the big leagues and three holding top-100 prospect designations. This group includes Cole Young (Double-A), Colt Emerson (High-A), Felnin Celesten (Rookie Ball), and Tai Peete (Single-A), all of whom were first-round picks or high-profile international signings.
“They have a lot of options there,” Sammon said. “They have depth, and it’s viewed as a surplus. That’s the area to trade from.”
To make the right trade decisions, the team needs to rely on accurate internal scouting, Sammon emphasized.
“Many top prospects are in A-ball levels, a few years away from being Major League ready,” he said. “Not all will pan out, but a couple will. Knowing your system and having strong internal scouting is crucial to deciding who to trade.”
Sammon also noted that impactful trades don’t necessarily require parting with the best prospects like Emerson, Young, or catcher Harry Ford.
“They don’t need to trade their top prospects. With their depth, they could trade mid-tier prospects and still get offensive help,” Sammon said.
The End Goal: Winning
When it comes to trading prospects, two main philosophies exist: one argues that trading potential future stars for short-term solutions can harm a franchise’s long-term outlook, while the other suggests capitalizing on prospects’ value when it’s high is the better strategy.
Seattle has experienced both sides. Deals like trading Adam Jones and Chris Tillman for Erik Bedard, and recent trades involving Freddy Peralta and Pablo López, are often criticized. Conversely, the return the Cincinnati Reds received for Luis Castillo, which hasn’t yet produced significant results, illustrates the risk of holding onto prospects.
Sammon believes the right approach balances both philosophies.
“There’s a balance of maintaining a farm system, but the ultimate goal is to win,” Sammon said. “The opportunity is right in front of the Mariners.”
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