ESPN Insider’s View on Mariners and Astros’ Trade Deadline Strategies.
As the Seattle Mariners battle to maintain their narrow one-game lead over the Houston Astros in the American League West, anticipation builds for their upcoming three-game series at T-Mobile Park this weekend.
Jerry Dipoto on Mariners’ Need for More Offensive Production
The Mariners are actively seeking offensive upgrades before the July 30 MLB trade deadline, aiming to bolster their lineup. Meanwhile, the Astros are also on the hunt for reinforcements to enhance their roster.
David Schoenfield, an ESPN senior writer covering MLB, shared his insights on the trade prospects for both the Mariners and Astros during an appearance on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy show on Wednesday, with the deadline less than two weeks away.
Astros’ Pursuit of Pitching
Houston has struggled with injuries in their starting rotation throughout the season, contributing to their team ERA of 4.03, ranking 17th in MLB, and a WHIP of 1.30, placing them 21st. Despite previous big trades for aces like Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, Schoenfield does not see the Astros as major contenders for All-Star pitchers such as Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers) and Garrett Crochet (Chicago White Sox).
“Everything you’re hearing is the Astros are going to look to be aggressive,” Schoenfield remarked. “They need pitching, and that’s what’s out there. With their weak farm system, they likely can’t secure a pitcher like Crochet or Skubal but might manage to get a rental starter to improve their rotation.”
Mariners’ Quest for a Big Bat
Seattle’s primary issue lies with their offense. As Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto explained to Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Wednesday, the competitive trade market, with many teams still in playoff contention, complicates their search for impactful hitters.
The Mariners have a strong farm system that could facilitate a significant trade, yet Schoenfield doubts the availability of bats worthy of trading top prospect Harry Ford, ranked No. 23 overall and No. 2 in Seattle’s system by MLB Pipeline.
“Is there a hitter out there worth trading Harry Ford for? I’m not sure,” Schoenfield said. “Would you trade Harry Ford for a Vladimir Guerrero? Those are the kinds of considerations you might have to make. Frankly, I don’t know if I’d want to do that. Guerrero might be the best option to address the need at first base or DH. Is it worth depleting your farm system for him? That’s the dilemma the front office faces.”
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