Mariners Rumors: Trading with the Pirates for Bryan Reynolds

Trade 1: Mariners give up some arms for Reynolds

EDIT – Leaving this up so you can make fun of me/realize we make mistakes. Clicked on the wrong name in trade values, so was going off a way lower value. Yeah, Mariners would need to give up two real good prospects or a top prospect to get him. Apologies #Pirates Fans.

Personally, I think that if the Mariners were going to acquire some hitting at the deadline, that they would try and send out hitting as well to keep the system balanced. That isn’t always how it works, as you have to weigh your strengths and the values that you have assigned to the players in your system.

That’s why I could still see a trade like this happening. Would the Pirates be good with getting a handful of pitchers that they could use, at the earliest, starting next summer? Possibly. We have seen it in the past with deals that they have made. The Reds are sneakily feisty, the Brewers are good, and the Cardinals are always good. Always.

Phillips is the top prospect in this scenario, as the Mariners would trade away their number nine prospect. He’s a young righty (just 20) with a good fastball-curveball combination. Already touching the high 90s, if he can gain better control over the curve and the slider, he would have a great three-pitch arsenal to become a good rotation piece.

Macko is also 20, but a lefty. He’s got an incredible ceiling, but the difference between his floor and ceiling is one of the widest you can project. Dollard rounds it out with a low 90s sinking fastball, good command, and a slider that misses bats despite being in the 70s.

Trade 2: Mariners give up some bats for Reynolds

EDIT – Leaving this up so you can make fun of me/realize we make mistakes. Clicked on the wrong name in trade values, so was going off a way lower value. Yeah, Mariners would need to give up two real good prospects or a top prospect to get him. Apologies #Pirates Fans.

This is the route I think the Mariners would go if they tried to trade for Reynolds. You send out a solid replace in Trammell, another young outfielder in Deloach to give them a better chance of finding a major leaguer out of the two outfielders, as well as an infielder that can move around a bit in Rizzo.

With Joe Rizzo, the hope would be that he could provide depth behind Ke’Bryan Hayes, the stud third baseman. He’s been playing first and second as well this season, showing more of a utility role that should only increase his value as a future big-leaguer.

Deloach is 11th in the Mariners system, with solid and well-rounded projections. It sounds odd, but he seems to be above-average at everything without being great at anything. That could easily change as he is still 22, and is showing improvement already. The swing has less holes than it did in college, his speed has improved a bit, and he pairs that with a decent glove and solid arm, and he seems like a solid fit for a corner role by late 2022/early 2023.

Then there is Trammell. He’s been moved around a fair amount, but will show flashes reminding you why he was a highly-rated prospect in recent years. Even though he only hit .160 with Seattle in 2021, he had a good walk rate and definitely has the power to play and the defense to play great outfield. He’s hitting .333 with 14 extra-base hits in just under 100 plate appearances. Giving him time to play in Pittsburgh without too much pressure could be just what he needs.

Trade 3: Mariners go for broke, not just Reynolds

EDIT – Leaving this up so you can make fun of me/realize we make mistakes. Clicked on the wrong name in trade values, so was going off a way lower value. Yeah, Mariners would need to give up two real good prospects or a top prospect to get him. Apologies #Pirates Fans.

I don’t think there is a chance that they would do this one, but I can see the reasoning behind wanting to do something like this. Reynolds has long-term value and is someone that they could keep on the team even with the trio of Lewis-Kelenic-Rodriguez. Lewis might end up as a DH in order to keep him healthy and keep the bat in the lineup, so finding another young outfielder isn’t a crazy thought.

We already talked about Frazier in a recent article, and he would be a nice get at second base. It would be sort of like a trial period, and the Mariners could either sign him long-term, let him walk, or even trade him next year if things aren’t going their way.

In Richard Rodriguez, they would get another great arm to add to what has been a top-3 bullpen in terms of WAR. If they could add him, while getting Swanson and Santiago back, it would be a scary good bullpen.

You’re going to have to give up talent to get it. Trammell is in this deal as well, adding in two of the Mariners top-seven prospects in Then and Kirby. You give the Pirates a high-ceiling pitcher with what could be plus-plus-plus command, as well as Then, who is loved by scouts all over.

If things go well for the Mariners over the next week or so, they could definitely be one of the teams that call up Pittsburgh to try and make something happen. Dipoto has already said that he doesn’t want to affect the team’s long-term plans. However, if he could find a way to get someone like Reynolds, that could keep the window open just as long due to his team control. When it comes to Trader Jerry, it’s best to stay on your toes and expect the unexpected.