The Seattle Mariners are one of the hottest teams in baseball right now and are suddenly a real threat to make a playoff push. Just a few weeks ago it would have been logical for the Mariners to enter the trade deadline with a sellers mentality, but that plan has completely gone by the wayside after the team has won nine of its last 10 games, and 16 of their last 19.

Now sitting in second place in the AL West, the Mariners are tied with Toronto Blue Jays for the final Wild Card spot out of the American League. Considering they just swept the Blue Jays in a four-game set, the Mariners look like a real threat to outlast the other Wild Card contenders, all of whom play in the AL East. While the division remains a long shot, due to the 12.0-game gap between Houston and Seattle, the Mariners have still positioned themselves perfectly to steal a Wild Card spot.

In order for the Mariners to build off their mid-season success, the franchise should be looking to be buyers at the trade deadline. They've proven to have a solid core, and the emergence of talents such as Logan Gilbert and Julio Rodriguez have put this team in a very favorable position. Now, it's time to strike while the iron is hot.

With the MLB trade deadline looming, the Mariners should be looking to fortify the roster by any means necessary. With that in mind, here are the three top trade targets for the Mariners at the 2022 MLB trade deadline

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Mariners Trade Deadline Targets

3. Andrew Benintendi, OF

The Royals All-Star may not be in Kansas City much longer, and he would be a perfect target for the Mariners to take on in a one-year rental. The Mariners rank towards the bottom of MLB (24th) with a team batting average of just .234. In need of a batter who hits for a good average, they'd be hard-pressed to find one better than Benintendi. The Royals outfielder is batting .317 this season and has struck out just 49 times in 83 games. His career-best .389 OBP is reason to be excited, as he's been more selective at the plate, resulting in better at-bats.

The Mariners have some talent in the outfield, but with Jesse Winker suspended and struggling, Dylan Moore failing to hit above .200, and both Kyle Lewis and Taylor Trammell dealing with injuries,  adding an experienced outfielder to the mix could help the cause for the M's, and Benintendi may be the best option out there in terms of filling a need in Seattle.

2. Tyler Mahle, SP

While Luis Castillo may be the bigger-named Reds pitcher available at the deadline, Mahle may be a better fit in Seattle. The 27-year-old right-hander is widely expected to be dealt at the deadline, and after Seattle demoted George Kirby back to Triple-A, they have a need in the starting rotation.

Mahle's numbers this season appear rough on the surface, largely due to a dismal start to the season, during which the Reds went 3-20. Mahle was shelled in April, surrendering a 6.45 ERA through his first five starts of the year. Since then, however, he's been locked in. He's recorded 6 starts since the beginning of June, striking out 46 batters in 38.2 innings while surrendering a total of 13 earned runs in that span. Having shown significant signs of improvement over the past month-plus, the Mariners should be giving Mahle a long look at the deadline, especially given their need for a reliable fifth starter.

1. Merrill Kelly, SP

If the Reds' asking price for Tyler Mahle is too high, the Mariners could set their sights on a less expensive option. Merrill Kelly could potentially be available at the trade deadline with the Diamondbacks seeming unlikely to contend for a playoff spot. While the right-hander has less MLB experience than Mahle, he's 33 years old and would not cost quite as much for the Mariners to bring on board.

This season in Arizona, Kelly has recorded an excellent 3.42 ERA through his first 17 starts. While he doesn't rack up strikeouts at a high rate, having just 80 across 97.1 innings on the mound, the veteran pitches well to soft contact. The Mariners rank fourth in MLB in terms of home runs surrendered, having been burnt by the long ball 109 times this season. Only the Nationals (125), Reds (120), and Cubs (117) have given up more long balls. That is what would make Kelly such a great fit in Seattle. He's surrendered a total of six home runs this season, good for a 0.6 HR/9, and he's also rocking an impressive 3.34 FIP, meaning his results on the mound are far from a fluke.