The calendar hitting June means we're less than two months away from the July 30 MLB trade deadline. A lot can change for teams over the next eight weeks, but some franchises already have a concrete idea of their deadline strategies. Among those are the Seattle Mariners, who've sat atop the AL West standings for nearly a month.
The Mariners once again boast arguably the best starting rotation in the league, a staff that has carried Seattle to a 34-27 record. Mariners pitching ranks sixth in ERA and tops the league in WHIP.
Seattle's offense continues to struggle on the other side of the ball, having scored the fourth-fewest runs. Only the Chicago White Sox, owners of the worst record in baseball, have a lower team batting average than the Mariners.
That recipe did not end in a playoff berth for Seattle in 2023 and it seems poised to change that this year. The Mariners do not want to waste another stellar season from their starting pitchers and have the means to make a significant trade over the next two months.
ESPN's Jeff Passan put the Mariners among six MLB teams who will definitely add before the trade deadline. Seattle will no doubt be looking for an impact bat to add to their lineup, and several former All-Stars could be available.
“[Luis] Robert, [Pete] Alonso, and especially [Vladimir] Guerrero and [Bo] Bichette, if available, all will be in play for the Mariners, and the question isn't whether they're going to add offense. It's whom they're going to add,” Passan said.
The Mariners have four top 100 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, and The Athletic's Keith Law placed five Seattle minor-leaguers in his recent top 50 prospect list. Everything is in front of the Mariners to make an impact move.
Who makes the most sense for the Mariners?
Seattle may call around for other hitters they're intrigued by, but the odds are that those made obviously available by their respective teams will be the first ones on the Mariners' list.
Among the names mentioned by Passan, Pete Alonso seems the likeliest to be moved. The New York Mets' slugging first baseman is set to become a free agent after the season and the Mets would be wise to move him rather than risk losing him for nothing.
Alonso has a .234 batting average and .770 OPS through 60 games, adding 13 home runs and 14 doubles. With the Mets ten games under .500, it doesn’t make much sense for them to hang onto Alonso, even if there are thoughts to retain him beyond this season. Although rare for a player of Alonso's caliber, there's always a possibility that he could return to New York as a free agent.
The Mariners recently emerged as the betting favorites to be Alonso's next team. They wouldn’t have to cough up too much prospect capital to get him seeing as he's a rental. Adding a true power threat to the lineup could bring Seattle to another level.
As for Robert, Guerrero and Bichette, all three are under team control through at least 2025 (Robert has team options in his contract for 2026 and 2027). That means the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays will ask for more from teams interested in those All-Star players.
A lot of eyes are on the Blue Jays to see what they'll do. Toronto entered the season with hopes of contending for a World Series but is in the basement of the AL West and five games out of a playoff spot.
There should be options for the Mariners within the trade market. Seattle might be the most intriguing buyer to watch over the next eight weeks.
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