The Seattle Mariners have been on the cusp of contention for a few years now but have been unable to break through. The team has posted win totals of 88, 90, and 90 games, respectively, over the last three seasons, with just one playoff appearance to show for it. The Mariners are on pace to hit that 90-win mark again in 2024 but struggles from the rest of the AL West (no other team with a winning record) mean that Seattle carries a comfortable 5.5-game lead in the division.

Yet even with this strong start, the Mariners can still look to improve. Here are three early Mariners trade targets ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

Mariners trade needs

Right field

A reunion with Mitch Haniger — a 2019 All-Star who finished 11th in the AL MVP voting that year — was supposed to offset the loss of free agent right fielder Teoscar Hernandez. Instead, Haniger has been unproductive at the plate and even worse in the field. The 33-year-old has a .637 OPS, and his home-run rate of 2.5% is the worst of his career. Haniger has already committed four errors in 50 games in the field and has been worth -6 Defensive Runs Saved Above Average this year.

Designated hitter

Among all 30 MLB teams, only the Chicago White Sox have gotten less production this year than the Mariners out of their designated hitters. The club's primary DH, Mitch Garver, is batting .176 on the year while striking out a career-worst 30.4% of the time. His expected batting average of .185 is also the third-worst among qualified hitters.

Reliever

Andres Muñoz has been fantastic for Seattle, going 12-13 in save chances while posting a 1.67 ERA. But after him, the bullpen is suspect. Austin Voth and Trent Thornton have career ERAs above 4.00, and neither was healthy for an entire season last year. The team is also without Matt Brash, who led MLB with 78 relief appearances last year before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024. Adding a dependable set-up man would complement Seattle's elite starting rotation.

Mariners trade targets

Brent Rooker (OF), Oakland Athletics

A 30-home run season by Brent Rooker was one of the few bright spots for the Athletics last season, though it did come at the cost of 172 strikeouts. Rooker is still striking out too often this year, but he has been a much more well-rounded threat at the plate. The 29-year-old's whiff rate is down, his batting average is up by 20 points, and he is on pace for 50% more doubles in 2024. Rooker also ranks in the 98th percentile in expected slugging and the 92nd percentile in hard-hit rate.

The Mariners attempted to pivot away from their all-or-nothing approach at the plate yet still lead MLB in strikeouts and are 21st in runs scored. Adding a run-producer like Brent Rooker gives Seattle a fearsome hitter for the middle of the batting order.

Mark Canha (OF/1B/DH), Detroit Tigers

Mark Canha has been a steady performer throughout his career, and this year has been no different. Though the 35-year-old has slowed down after a hot start, he still has a solid .715 OPS and his .346 on-base percentage top 20 in the American League. Canha has the flexibility to slot in at either corner outfield spot or first base, plus he has 23 appearances as a designated hitter in 2024 — another area where the Mariners lack offensive production. With his reliable bat and defensive flexibility, Mark Canha is an excellent low-cost option for a Seattle club needing another bat.

Jason Adam (RP), Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are currently toeing the line between contender and seller. If this team does not improve in the coming months, the Mariners could look to poach from Tampa's deep bullpen. Jason Adam has a 2.18 ERA in his three years with the Rays and has experience as a ninth-inning man. Adam is a dependable reliever and one of many names in a deep Tampa Bay pen that could be available ahead of the MLB trade deadline.