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Seattle Mariners Ranking 5 Potential Future Aces to Anchor Rotation

By Colby Patnode

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 30: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals pitches during MLB baseball action against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on August 30, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 30: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals pitches during MLB baseball action against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on August 30, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
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1. Blake Snell

SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 3: Starter Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch during the second inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 3, 2018, in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 2-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 3: Starter Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch during the second inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 3, 2018, in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 2-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Yeah, that’s right. Blake Snell is the Mariners best shot at acquiring an ace. Unlike the other names on this list, anytime before 2022 is a bit of a stretch on ETA. Snell just signed a 5-year, $50 million extensions in Tampa, which bought out one year of free agency. But I think we all know that teams who are interested in Snell’s services won’t have to wait until he hits free agency after the 2023 season.

The Tampa Bay Rays will be rebuilding again before then, as they do every few years. And that isn’t a knock on the Rays, who are one of the better front offices in the game, but that is the most likely scenario. The Rays did it with James Shields. They did it with Chris Archer. And they’ll do it with Blake Snell.

Add on the love affair these two front offices have with each other and the collection of talent by the Mariners this off-season and going forward, and a Snell trade continues to make more and more sense.

In addition, Snell is a Pacific Northwest guy, born in Seattle, attended Shorewood High School, and actively roots for the Seahawks, University of Washington, and NHL Seattle project, as well as stumping for the return of the NBA to the area.

Snell is a northwest guy through and through. If given the chance, it is hard to imagine the two sides not showing mutual interest in one another. If Snell does ever hit free agency, the Mariners will surely rank high on his list of preferred destinations.

Mariners Extension Candidates: Domingo Santana. dark. Next

Honestly, I’d be a little surprised if Blake Snell didn’t don a Mariners uniform by 2025. It won’t be cheap to acquire him via trade or free agency, but he is the best shot at the Mariners acquiring an ace in the near future, so he comes in at number 1 on our list.

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