Which Mariners prospects could be used as trade bait?

The Seattle Mariners have one of the best farm systems in the game, but which prospects could be used as trade pieces to improve the big league roster?

We continue our Mariners mailbag series answering your questions submitted to us via Twitter @sodomojoFS. Today, we tackle a question from @BennettPrag who would like us to talk about some potential tradable prospects going forward.

Obviously, the correct answer to this question is that all prospects have a chance to be traded at the right time. Some are more likely than others, but every prospect should be available in trade if the right player would be coming back to Seattle.

But based on where the Mariners are in their current rebuild, any player they would trade major prospects for would have to be young, controllable, MLB proven everyday players. Even guys like Fransisco Lindor and Kris Bryant don’t make much sense for Seattle right now.

But circling back to your question, I think we can safely say that Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez, and Logan Gilbert are all close to “untouchable”. Thanks to his ultra team-friendly extension, Evan White likely lands on this list as well.

Trading a youngster like Noelvi Marte doesn’t make much sense either. They may trade him down the road, but moving him now might be selling ridiculously low and the piece you get back for him won’t be enough to push Seattle into a playoff position, at least not in 2020 or 2021.

The Mariners also appear to be looking at Cal Raleigh as their catcher of the future. But after that, I think any prospect could be dealt in the right deal. This includes notable names like George Kirby, Jake Fraley, Kyle Lewis, Justin Dunn, and Justus Sheffield.

While it is unlikely any of those names are traded before next summer, it could make sense for an established MLB player with four-plus years of club control. When you look at things from an organizational depth perspective, moving a couple of outfielders could be in play before trading from their pitching reserves.

Ultimately, if I had to wager a guess on who the next, or first depending on your point of view, major prospect to be traded from the Mariners will be Justus Sheffield or Justin Dunn. But again, the number of players that fit Seattle’s timeline to compete that would be worth either arm is small.

Thank you for the question @BennettPrag. And let us know in the comments which big-time prospect you believe the Mariners will trade for MLB help when they are ready to compete.