Mariners Trade Rumors: 3 moves to make before August 1

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SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 11: Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto watches batting practice before a game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 11, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. The Rangers won the game 2-1 in eleven innings. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

As the MLB Trade Deadline sits just five days away, the Seattle Mariners still have a few holes they need to address. The problem is, their farm system is pretty limited, so they will likely have to settle for serviceable generics rather than name-brands, but, if the M’s can play that side of the market well, who’s to say that’s so bad.

The Mariners seem only a few pieces away from the postseason, and if Jerry Dipoto can play his cards right, he could land those pieces, and set Seattle up for a run at October. There’s just one thing he needs to not do at the deadline, and you can find out what that is in this slideshow.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MAY 30: Jeff Samardzija /

Move #1: Trade for rotation arm

The Mariners currently have one of the weakest rotations in the MLB. Felix Hernandez and James Paxton have been solid options, but the other three M’s starters are not the options of a playoff team. If they want to break their 16-year playoff drought this season, Dipoto will make a swap for a starting pitcher.

Jeff Samardzija is one potential target. He’s had a tough 2017, and the Mariners could buy lower on him than at other points in his career, but he’s the type of pitcher the M’s could use down the stretch. Fellow Giant Johnny Cueto could also be on the Mariners radar.

Move #2: Keep Mitch Haniger

In the Mariners mysterious pursuit of Sonny Gray, Mitch Haniger has been a name tossed around that would need to be included to trigger a deal. Ben Gamel is an alternative to Haniger, but if between the two of them, Haniger is the underperforming one, and the M’s would rather swap him than Gamel.

I’m not Jerry Dipoto, but trading Haniger seems like one of the worst moves the Mariners could make. He has underperformed in 2017, and has been especially bad since his return from the DL, but I’ll chalk that up to a lot of rust that comes from not swinging against MLB pitching for two months.

Haniger showed with his start to 2017, that he is the kind of bat you build future teams around, and as much as I’d love to have a pitcher like Gray in the fold for future seasons, I really do not love the thought of him hitting against us 18 times a year. If at all possible, the Mariners need to acquire starting pitching without compromising Haniger’s status with the team.

Move #3: Solidify the Bullpen

The Mariners currently are in a tough place, where they are really struggling to put together solid relief arms night in and night out. Some nights the pen’s work is great and some nights it falls apart. If this team wants to make the postseason, they will go add one more arm to bolster their depth.

When Dipoto got David Phelps, he acknowledged the holes in the ‘pen, but that’s the thing: there are multiple holes. The Mariners could clean that up though with a couple of deals. The man I would love to see the M’s get is the Orioles’ Brad Brach. He has a 2.70 ERA on the year in 43 games. He has a WHIP of 0.95 and has been a solid option in the Baltimore pen.

The Orioles also have Mychal Givens who teams should be salivating over, but their asking price for him would likely be too steep for the Mariners to acquire.

Next: Mariners aren't trading Kyle Lewis, at least not right now

The Mariners have less than a week to pull a rotation arm and help their bullpen. Dipoto needs to make some moves to improve Seattle’s situation. If he can pull both of these moves well, and keep Haniger in the process, I’ll chalk up his 2017 to really solid.

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Move #1: Trade for rotation arm

Move #2: Keep Mitch Haniger

Move #3: Solidify the Bullpen

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