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Seattle Mariners: 3 reasons why a trade for Blake Snell could happen

By Willie Keeler |
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he is being taken out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game Six of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he is being taken out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game Six of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images)
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SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 3: Starter Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch during 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 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) /

Could the Seattle Mariners trade for Blake Snell? 100%. Here are the 3 biggest reasons why it could happen this offseason.

Almost four weeks have gone by and the talks about Blake Snell have calmed down, but when Kevin Cash pulled Blake Snell in the 6th inning of Game 6 of the World Series, the world was in a frenzy.

Snell was in cruise control pitching like the Cy Young award winner that he is. He had pitched to a 3.33 ERA in the 2020 playoffs before the game. He had allowed 0 runs and only 2 hits with 9 strikeouts through 5 and 1/3 innings in his second World Series start when the Rays manager Kevin Cash decided to pull him to do the smart analytics move and not have him face the Dodgers order for the third time.

What ensued was a 3-1 Rays loss that sent the Commissioners Trophy to Los Angeles. After the game, Blake Snell said that he was “Disappointed and upset.” He also went on to say, “I am not going to question (Cash). He’s a helluva manager.”

Chances are things will be fine with Snell and the Rays, but after his disappointment with the decisions made last season, if the Mariners came calling would Snell be all aboard coming to Seattle? More importantly, would the Rays be intrigued by what the Mariners can offer? Yes and yes. In fact, a trade for Snell between the two sides would be a perfect fit.

Here are the three biggest reasons why the Seattle Mariners could swing a trade for the Rays ace Blake Snell.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 23: Chris Archer #22 of the Tampa Bay Rays greets Blake Snell #4 before the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 23, 2016 in the Bronx borough of New York City.This is Snell’s major league debut. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 23: Chris Archer #22 of the Tampa Bay Rays greets Blake Snell #4 before the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 23, 2016 in the Bronx borough of New York City.This is Snell’s major league debut. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The Rays love making these kinds of trades

The number one reason that this trade could happen is because of the Rays’ tendencies to sell high on their star players, even when they are competing. Years ago the Rays traded James Shields after a 90 win season and then traded David Price a few years later.

Recently they have made a few similar trades. In 2017 they traded their franchise third baseman Evan Longoria to the San Francisco Giants. In 2018 they traded their Opening Day starter Chris Archer in the middle of what became a 90 win season to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Tyler Glasnow (Their current number 2 starter), Austin Meadows (Current starting outfielder), and Shane Baz (Their number 5 rated prospect).

Related Story. 5 Mariners prospects who could be traded this offseason. light

They also traded Tommy Pham to the San Diego Padres this past offseason in a deal that sent prospects and MLB players both ways. The Rays also sent Jake Cronenworth to the Padres in the deal and received Hunter Renfroe (Who the Rays just DFA’d), Xavier Edwards (Their number 4 rated prospect), and a player to be named later.

A trade for Snell that would involve multiple Mariners prospects and MLB ready players would definitely be something that the Rays would listen to. Snell has 3 years left on a deal that still owes him $39 million, so the small-market Rays could be interested in a deal if the Mariners offer the right price which we know they can with their stacked farm system.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 21: Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Game Two of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 21, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 21: Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Game Two of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 21, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Adding an ace could be what this young rotation needs

The Seattle Mariners rotation has a lot of potential but the majority of fans believe that they will do what they did last year with Taijuan Walker and that they will sign another starting pitcher. Marco Gonzales and Justus Sheffield will be the one-two at the top of the rotation unless someone is signed or traded for, but then after that, no one has a 100% spot in the rotation.

Yusei Kikuchi still needs to prove himself and could be out the door after next year. Justin Dunn had a good season last year but the advanced stats show a different story that is concerning.

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There’s also Nick Margevicius and Ljay Newsome who got some starts last season and are good young pitchers, as well as the Mariners number 4 ranked prospect on MLB.com Logan Gilbert, who will almost certainly make his MLB debut next year.

The addition of Blake Snell at the top of the rotation would give the Mariners a much clearer image for their rotation and would insert a Cy Young talent into a rotation that next year will most likely be ok, probably not bad, but certainly not one of the best. The Mariners could also trade one of the pitchers mentioned above (Other than Gonzales and Sheffield) which would clear up the end of the rotation to some extent as well.

Snell, Gonzales, Sheffield, Gilbert, and Hancock. Let us Mariners fans dream.

SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 3: Starter Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays dleivers a pitch during the first inning of a game at Safeco Field on June 3, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 3: Starter Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays dleivers a pitch during the first inning of a game at Safeco Field on June 3, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

This would be a homecoming for the Seattle native and childhood Seattle Mariners fan

Blake Snell was born in Seattle and was raised in Shoreline, which for those who are not familiar with the area borders the City of Seattle in the north. Snell was committed to play for the University of Washington (but elected to go pro after being drafted by the Rays) and still resides in Shoreline in the offseason.

Related Story. Blake Snell of the Rays represented Seattle well in the World Series. light

He clearly still loves the Pacific Northwest but how about playing in Seattle? He has been outstanding in his career against the Seattle Mariners with a 0.81 ERA in 22.1 innings pitched and in his one start in Seattle he pitched 6 innings, letting up 2 hits and 0 earned runs.

In high school at Shorewood High School, he dominated the competition under a coach that fellow Sodo Mojo expert Ryota Nishino also played for. In his senior year, he had a 1.00 ERA, a .116 opponent BA, and 118 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched.

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Snell grew up in a bedroom with Mariners’ paraphernalia as a huge fan of the team and went to Safeco Field to watch his favorite team many times as a kid. I would have to imagine that it would be like a dream for Snell to be able to come home and help his hometown win their first World Series.

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