If there’s one standout trait in regards to the Mariners headed in 2025, it’s their elite rotation; Seattle has essentially the most spectacular assortment of younger, cost-controlled beginning pitching expertise within the majors proper now. Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo mixed for greater than 700 innings of three.18 ERA baseball in 2024. Gilbert, who turns 28 in Might, is the oldest of the group and the quartet has a mixed 17 seasons of crew management remaining.
That crop of proficient younger starters is the envy of the remainder of the league, but when there’s a second standout trait in regards to the 2025 Mariners it’s their questionable offense. Cal Raleigh is among the many finest offensive catchers within the sport, however the lineup affords little certainty exterior of him. Julio Rodriguez has celebrity upside however didn’t present it for a lot of final 12 months as he entered July hitting simply .247/.297/.327. Randy Arozarena managed a superb 11.7% stroll price down the stretch after being traded to the Mariners midseason, however hit simply 5 dwelling runs in 54 video games and was price simply 1.9 fWAR general final 12 months between his time in Seattle and Tampa.
The trio of Raleigh, Rodriguez, and Arozarena all venture to be above common hitters in 2025, however the remainder of the lineup is nicely beneath common. Victor Robles loved a profession 12 months after becoming a member of the Nationals midseason final 12 months, however his elite efficiency in Seattle was carried by a .388 BABIP. Between that excessive success with batted ball luck and his profession .236/.311/.356 (81 wRC+) slash line previous to becoming a member of the Mariners, it’s exhausting to count on greater than league common manufacturing from Robles in 2025. Dylan Moore and Luke Raley each posted stable numbers in 2025 however are platoon gamers who can’t be relied on in on a regular basis roles, whereas J.P. Crawford, Mitch Haniger, and Mitch Garver have been all nicely beneath common hitters in 2024.
The membership’s solely addition to the offense so far has been Donovan Solano, who posted stable numbers in 2024 however figures to hitch Moore and Raley as one other part-time participant. A mix of Moore, Raley, and Solano appear prone to be able to dealing with first and second base, however the membership’s lineup nonetheless has a gaping gap on the sizzling nook after non-tendering Josh Rojas and declining Jorge Polanco’s membership possibility. MLBTR explored the third base market because it pertains to the Mariners earlier this month, however not one of the free agent choices that match their funds and lower-level commerce candidates accessible are notably inspiring.
The Mariners have been hesitant to commerce from their glorious rotation, solely reluctantly listening to affords on dear veteran Luis Castillo and seemingly shutting down discussions concerning their younger core of arms fully. However buying a cost-controlled, elite beginning pitcher may open up new prospects for the membership so as to add influence expertise that wouldn’t have been accessible in any other case. The Purple Sox reportedly dangled an influence teenager in first baseman Triston Casas in change for both Miller or Woo earlier this winter, and it’s simple to think about rotation-needy golf equipment providing equally impactful expertise in change for a younger arm of that caliber.
Dangling Gilbert or Kirby would absolutely land the Mariners an much more engaging bundle in change given their stable observe information of front-of-the-rotation work within the majors so far. The Orioles, for instance, have a deep group of positional expertise however are in want of an influence starter. It’s not unattainable to think about Baltimore being prepared to half with a longtime younger expertise like Jordan Westburg because the headliner in a bundle for somebody like Gilbert, maybe packaged with a much less impactful cost-controlled arm like Dean Kremer to ease the blow to Seattle’s rotation.
Turning away from the Orioles, Mark Vientos of the Mets and Matt McLain of the Reds are among the many different high-end, cost-controlled third basemen who the Mariners may theoretically search as a headliner in a bundle for one in every of their prime starters, although neither is kind of as helpful as Westburg. In fact, such offers are simpler to suggest than really execute. Whereas a crew like Cincinnati packaging McLain with one in every of their very own rotation arms like Nick Lodolo with a view to land an elite expertise like Gilbert may make sense on paper, the damage historical past of each gamers may give the Mariners loads of pause about giving up one in every of their most beneficial belongings for little in the way in which of certainty and the Reds could also be equally hesitant to supply up two established gamers with All-Star upside in change for one.
That’s only one instance, after all, however it’s equally troublesome to think about the Mariners lining up on the best commerce bundle for a participant as helpful as Gilbert or Kirby with the overwhelming majority of rival golf equipment. Excessive-end, cost-controlled beginning pitching is the only most fascinating asset within the sport, and whereas followers of rival groups have lengthy dreamed of their GM figuring out a commerce with Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto to convey one of many Mariners’ younger aces to city they’d absolutely begin feeling queasy in regards to the risk upon seeing simply how a lot their crew would wish to half with with a view to land such a coveted expertise.
In the event you have been within the Mariners’ sneakers, how would you method the scenario? Would you’re taking the identical course Dipoto has and easily refuse to noticeably entertain affords on your elite group of younger pitchers, trying to improve the crew in different methods like by dealing Castillo? Would you hearken to affords whereas holding agency on a excessive asking worth? Or would you compromise on the worth of one in every of your prime belongings with a view to assist bolster an offense in determined want of influence? Have your say within the ballot beneath:
