MLB Trade Deadline Preview for the M's

[Seattle or Bust]

regardless of cash.

Words uttered by Mariner ownership not one single time ever.

Ya but isn't that the point lol?

There are good, cheap rentals out there that could make the ballclub better. It likely won't be Bregman, but they can actually get better this deadline without spending a lot of $$.

[Donn Beach]

Dipoto likes there to be some control years even with his deadline deals doesn't he? Has he brought in a rent-a-player?

[Michael K.]

Ya but isn't that the point lol?

There are good, cheap rentals out there that could make the ballclub better. It likely won't be Bregman, but they can actually get better this deadline without spending a lot of $$.

I understand what you are saying. I just find it maddening as Hell that in a sport with no salary cap, Mariner fans spend the amount of time they do worrying about if the guy they think will help them is actually affordable. Of course they are, this team just won't pay the price.

One playoff appearance in over two decades, a rebuild where the promise was that they would spend when the time is right, and still no spending. And? We have the worst winning percentage of any division leader in all of baseball, and we still talk about how players that are at a low cost can be added. At what point was it ever going to be time to spend? The answer is never. They saved all that money during the rebuild, are now at a point where they should make a run, and are happy winning 54% instead, especially if it is at the right price.

[Seattle or Bust]

Dipoto likes there to be some control years even with his deadline deals doesn't he? Has he brought in a rent-a-player?

Justin Turner and Yimi Garcia in '24.

Carlos Santana in '22.

[Michael K.]

Dipoto likes there to be some control years even with his deadline deals doesn't he? Has he brought in a rent-a-player?

Justin Turner and Yimi Garcia in '24.

Carlos Santana in '22.

Missed the playoffs both years. Made the playoffs in 22, but not because they added Santana. The added a proven starting pitcher, right?

Doesn't matter. The simple fact that not one in the Mariner FO seems to understand that the moves in 22 were different tells me all I need to know. They don't care about the playoffs, and won't make a move to get them there unless it helps the bottom line. Name another team in baseball you would say the same about?

Year what of the rebuild? How much money saved? And we still have topics in Mariner Fan forums talking about how much money they have to spend. Is their payroll really that high? Is the profit really that low?

[Seattle or Bust]

Dipoto likes there to be some control years even with his deadline deals doesn't he? Has he brought in a rent-a-player?

Justin Turner and Yimi Garcia in '24.

Carlos Santana in '22.

Missed the playoffs both years. Made the playoffs in 22, but not because they added Santana. The added a proven starting pitcher, right?

Doesn't matter. The simple fact that not one in the Mariner FO seems to understand that the moves in 22 were different tells me all I need to know. They don't care about the playoffs, and won't make a move to get them there unless it helps the bottom line. Name another team in baseball you would say the same about?

Year what of the rebuild? How much money saved? And we still have topics in Mariner Fan forums talking about how much money they have to spend. Is their payroll really that high? Is the profit really that low?

You're not going to get an argument from me. Of course I want them to spend more.

This is simply a list about what's available... a lot of the players happen to be rentals on pretty cheap contracts.

[Michael K.]

I appreciate the list. Thanks for putting that kind of effort in. My pessimistic view of this ownership group makes it tough for me to look at deadline stuff and have much of a positive response I guess.

[bhofferb]

Jerry’s already practicing his speech telling us our big midseason additions are getting Raley and Robles back.

[Big_Maple]

Most of these players I wouldn't classify as "major" moves.

A Bregman would be, but an O'hearn wouldn't be.

If they traded for Moncada, O'hearn, Finnegan... it would be a pretty modest return for all of them.

Masataka Yoshida Is working his way off the DL. He is blocked every which way till Tuesday with a crowded outfield and Devers parked at DL.

Dane Myers and Kyle Stowers could be interesting - both are doing well for the struggling Marlins.

[Pharmabro]

In this preview, we'll look at what teams might be trading/have available who are currently tweeners and clear sellers. It's pretty obvious at this juncture that the M's need help at 1B, 3B, corner OF and reliever... so those are the positions targeted in this post.

Tweeners:

Boston Red Sox:

Alex Bregman, 3B - As crazy as it sounds, the Red Sox might trade Bregman if they fall further out of contention (their pitching sucks) as he has an opt out after this season that he'll surely take if he continues this run. To this point, he's been worth 3.0 bWAR and is slashing .299/.385/.533/.938 with 11 homers and 34 RBI's. He's actually hitting to a .991 OPS on the road which is incredible getting the benefit of Fenway. He'd be the perfect rental.

Abraham Toro, Util - Say it ain't soro... Toro has hit quite well in an 18-game stint with Boston and his positional flexibility could be enticing. He's currently hitting .310/.310/.534/.845 with 3 homers and is on a 1-year deal.

Rob Refsnyder, OF - The veteran has enjoyed a 2-year production boom and will be a free agent following the season. He's currently hitting .302/.371/.585/.986 with 4 homers in 21 games. He is crushing lefties with a 1.014 OPS and would be a nice platoon/bench bat.

Aroldis Chapman, RP - Chapman is enjoying a bit of a renaissance year with Boston, posting a 1.96 ERA across 23 innings with a 2.56 FIP. He's on a heftier contract than most rentals but he'll be a hot commodity on the trade market.

Justin Wilson, RP - Wilson has had a nice bounce back year in Boston, posting a 2.37 ERA and 2.30 FIP across 19 innings. He's on a cheap 1-year deal and would be a nice piece to add for some depth.

Tampa Bay Rays:

Brandon Lowe, 2B - If the M's add a 2B, they could just play DMO at 3B. Lowe isn't the sexiest pickup they could grab, but he's been worth .7 bWAR and is slashing .242/.295/.430/.725 with 11 homers. Lowe has one more club option left heading into next season and if Tampa falls out of it, it's possible they move him given the production, injuries, and $$.

Pete Fairbanks, RP - The veteran reliever has quietly been one of the better relievers in the league for some time now. Fairbanks is rocking a 2.05 ERA with a 2.72 FIP and has one more club option at $7 million before hitting free agency. He'd be a massive add to any bullpen.

Texas Rangers:

Hoby Milner, RP - Milner is currently pitching to a 2.13 ERA and a 2.34 FIP. He struggled last year with Milwaukee but hasn't been a stranger to this sort of production before, posting a 1.82 ERA in 2023 across 64 innings. He's on a 1-year deal with Texas and will likely be moved if they fall out of contention.

Washington Nationals:

Amed Rosario, 3B - The veteran journeyman (who is always traded) is currently slashing .303/.333/.449/.783 across 27 games with the Nats. He's nothing to write home about but would be a valuable infield bat as a rental if he continues to produce.

Kyle Finnegan, RP - Finnegan pitched against the M's and was straight up nasty. He's been a great reliever the last 6 years for the Nats and is enjoying his best season to date with a 2.61 ERA and 2.65 FIP over 21 innings. He's in the final year of his contract and would be a stellar rental.

Atlanta Braves:

Marcell Ozuna, DH - OK, so he's not on the positions listed above but I don't really care. The veteran masher is still mashing in '25, hitting .280/.426/.457/.896 with 9 homers. He's in the final year of his contract and will be moved if the Braves continue to struggle.

Enyel De Los Santos/Pierce Johnson, RP - Both of them are good relievers having decent years (ERA's in the low 3's) with limited control remaining. Low WAR from both of them tells the story about their numbers but they'd be good depth pieces.

Cincinnati Reds:

Austin Hays, OF - Hays is absolutely mashing in '25 after a really bad 2024. He's slashing .303/.346/.555/.901 across 31 games and is absolutely smoking lefties with a 1.121 OPS. He has good home/road splits despite playing in Cinci and would be a hot commodity as a rental.

Brent Suter, RP - Suter has also quietly been one of the better relievers in baseball, never posting an ERA above the low, low 3's since 2020. A huge pitch to contact guy, his FIPS struggle but that could be fine in Seattle. He's currently rocking a 2.54 ERA in Cinci and has a cheap club option in '26 before becoming a free agent.

Arizona Diamondbacks:

Josh Naylor, 1B - Some would argue the M's should have traded for Naylor this past offseason, but alas. Naylor is currently slashing .301/.357/.470/.827. He's enjoying a nice home field advantage but the split isn't so egregious that it would kill a deal. He's a free agent next season.

Geno Suarez, 3B - Geno is having a solid year again with Arizona but with a HUGE caveat. He is rocking 1.100/.600 home/road splits That's a pretty big problem when you consider that Arizona has been the no. 1 park factor stadium for a couple years now. He'll be a free agent in '26 and the idea of bringing him back sounds enticing, but buyer beware.

Randal Grichuk, OF - Grichuk has been oddly good as a corner OF with the bat the last couple seasons. While only being worth .2 bWAR, he's slashing .275/.326/.500/.826 across 37 games and has even home/road splits to boot. He'll also be a free agent in '26.

Shelby Miller, RP - Miller is absolutely shoving with a 1.99 ERA across 23 innings. He struggled in '24 but had similar elite production in '23. He's on a cheap 1-year deal and will be moved if AZ continues to struggle.

Jalen Beeks, RP - Beeks has had a solid season thus far, posting a 3.49 ERA across 28 innings. More of a depth piece, he'll be a free agent next season.

Clear Sellers:

Baltimore Orioles:

Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/OF - O'Hearn has been one of the best bats in baseball in '25, slashing .329/.416/.535/.952. He's hitting well against both righties and lefties and the 1B/OF flexibility has to be enticing. He'll likely be one of the hottest rentals on the market.

Cedric Mullins, OF - Mullins has only been worth .4 bWAR despite a .232/.324/.448/.771 slash. He started out really hot and has cooled down quite a bit. Having had a horrible year in '24, it will be interesting to see how teams value him as a rental.

Ramon Laureano, OF - I remember Laureano fondly from his time with the A's... an elite defender who struggled with the bat some the last few years, he's really hit well in '25. The righty is currently slashing .266/.320/.532/.852 and has been worth 1.2 bWAR. Laureano has a cheapish club option in '26 so it will be interesting if he hits the market considering both O'Hearn and Mullins will be free agents in '26.

Keegan Akin, RP - Akin was a workhorse out of the pen last year for Baltimore, throwing 78 innings to a 3.32 ERA. He's having a solid year in '25 with a 3.12 ERA over 26 innings and he will be a free agent in '27 after his final year of arbitration.

Chicago White Sox:

Luis Robert, OF - The big question will be whether teams think they can fix him for a playoff run. Lets be honest, he's been real bad in '25... but the All Star pedigree is there. He's a free agent in '26 if the White Sox or a team trading for him don't pick up his expensive remaining club options.

Mike Tauchman, OF - The sample has been short following an injury early in the season, but Tauchman has been very good... worth 1.0 bWAR in just 12 games. He's a pure rental... will be interesting to keep an eye on whether the numbers stay up.

Los Angeles Angels:

Taylor Ward, OF - It should be said that I don't see the Angels trading Ward of all players to the M's. He means too much to Anaheim fans. That said, Ward is a solid corner OF, slashing .258/.293/.493/.765 and worth .8 bWAR thus far. He's got one more year of control (albeit expensive) in '26... so it's likely he stays until next season.

Yoan Moncada, 3B - I really wanted the M's to pick up Moncada as a rental. He's injury prone and has again faced injuries this season, but he's also slashing .237/.336/.550/.841 and has been worth .6 bWAR. He's enjoying some boosted offense in Anaheim but he'd be a nice addition as a pure rental at 3B.

Sacramento A's:

Luis Urias, 3B - He's been solid for the A's. No, the M's will not be trading for him.

Miami Marlins:

The Marlins have a bunch of really young relievers who are having amazing seasons out of their bullpen. Perhaps they could trade one or two to add to a horrible position group. Ronnie Henriquez, Ryan Weathers, Cade Gibson, Tyler Phillips have all been stellar.

Colorado Rockies:

Same story as the Marlins. For a 9-50 baseball team, they have a trio of young relievers that have combined to be worth 3.1 bWAR thus far. Colorado could look to trade a young reliever to outfit a horrible position group. Jake Bird, Zach Agnos, Jimmy Herget have all been incredible thus far.

Good work. I think adding a few BP parts and a 1B would be great. But even better would be 1B and 3B something like O’Hearn, Bregman, Chapman, and Shelby Miller.

1. JP SS *
2. Bregman 3B
3. Julio CF
4. Cal** C
5. Randy LF
6. O’Hearn* 1B
7. Polanco** DH
8. Raley* / Robles RF
9. Moore 2B

Bench Garver C, Rivas**, Young* Leody, Robles, Raley, etc

BP
Closer Munoz
SU Brash, Chapman, Miller
MR Vargas, Speier,
LR Buzzardo, Kowar

Others that could be Snider, Taylor, Lao, Santos


Just build the dam Deathstar!