2 star shortstops Mariners should call about just to see if they get lucky

When it comes to how the Seattle Mariners can recover from a dismal 2026 season, an idea that ought to be gaining traction is a blockbuster trade for a star shortstop. And it seems like the idea is gaining traction.

Adam Jude of The Seattle Times proposed such a trade as the No. 1 move the Mariners should make this offseason, and he didn't skimp on the options. Elly De La Cruz? Gunnar Henderson? Otto Lopez? Jeremy Peña? Zach Neto? Yeah, they're all in there.

It's a testament to the Mariners' trade capital that even deals for De La Cruz and Neto are remotely within the realm of possibility. But since that is the case, why not dream even bigger? What other star shortstops out there are at least worth a call?

Let's add two more to the list. It's more than likely that Jerry Dipoto would get hung up on if he called about either, but you know what Wayne Gretzky said about shots you don't take.

There's no harm in the Mariners calling about Geraldo Perdomo and Bobby Witt Jr.

Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks

It was in February of 2025 that the Diamondbacks signed Geraldo Perdomo to a four-year contract that guaranteed just $45 million. This was before he emerged as one of the best players in baseball.

Perdomo's 12.1 rWAR for the last two seasons ranks fourth among all position players, which goes to show what happens when an above-average defensive shortstop (+11 DRS, +21 OAA) is also an offensive threat. The 27-year-old has posted a 124 OPS+ across the last two seasons, with 29 home runs and 48 stolen bases.

As he also has a 2030 club option valued at just $15 million, Baseball Trade Values estimates Perdomo's surplus value at $132.1 million. That's into "Kade Anderson/Ryan Sloan and more" territory, and that's assuming Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen was even permitted to talk. Ken Kendrick, the team's principal owner, might be too competitive to allow it.

Then again, the Snakes have the unenviable task of competing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in the NL West. This hasn't been going so well since their World Series run in 2023, so there could be sense in trying to leverage the peak value of one star into a trade for several potential stars.

For the Mariners' side, Perdomo's glove alone would be a huge boon to what was MLB's worst defense in 2026. He would also be an ideal table-setter for Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez in the lineup. It's not easy to pile up more walks than strikeouts in today's MLB, but Perdomo has done so in each of the last two seasons.

Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

Oh, yeah. We're going there. And to be fair, the Boston Red Sox did first when they reportedly discussed Bobby Witt Jr. before the trade deadline. It's unclear if these discussions were with the Royals or strictly internal. But either way, they did indeed go there.

Witt's credentials hardly need an introduction. His 27.8 rWAR for the last three seasons is the most of anyone in MLB, and it comes with a 138 OPS+ and 162-game averages of 27 home runs and 43 stolen bases. Somehow, he's still just 26 years old.

In 2024, Witt signed an 11-year contract that could keep him in Kansas City through as far as 2037. However, it's not really an 11-year contract. Witt can opt out after his age-30 season in 2030, and he currently projects to have no reason not to do so. The Royals need to see their timeline for winning with him as a four-year project.

To this end, their backsliding from 86 wins in 2024 to 93 losses in 2026 is a real threat to the project's success. It's clear that Witt alone can only take them so far, and the farm system underneath him is not exactly brimming with near-future help. As with the D-backs and Perdomo, the question of whether it would be worth it to try to turn one star into multiple stars is worth asking.

Witt's surplus value is valued at $219.7 million, so this is more like "Kade Anderson/Ryan Sloan and a lot more" as a trade hypothetical for the Mariners. They'd truly have to empty the farm, and that would go firmly against Dipoto's commitment to sustainability.

Yet if ever there was a guy who needed to be in butt-saving mode, it's Dipoto right here and right now. And if ever there was a player worth the whole damn farm, it's Witt.

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