Three Seattle Mariners Trades for Zach Davies

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 10: Zach Davies #27 of the Chicago Cubs throws a pitch during the first inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on July 10, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 10: Zach Davies #27 of the Chicago Cubs throws a pitch during the first inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on July 10, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /
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Mariners: Trade for Zach Davies?
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 10: Zach Davies #27 of the Chicago Cubs throws a pitch during the first inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on July 10, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Mariners Third Trade Offer to Cubs for Zach Davies

One final trade proposal that the Mariners could send to the Cubs: Zach Davies for Taylor Dollard (Everett Aquasox SP, 4.52 ERA, $0.7M MTV) and Keegan McGovern (Arkansas Travelers OF, $0.7M MTV). Dollard was the Mariners’ 5th round pick in last year’s draft, and his first year with the Aquasox has yielded some promising statistics: 67% pitches for strikes and a 5.40 K/BB rate to accompany his 7-2 record.

He’s poised for a promotion to Double-A and could be viewed by the Cubs as a great pitching prospect to add to their farm system. McGovern was a 9th round draft pick in the 2018 draft and has played the entire 2021 season with the Arkansas Travelers. While his Double-A slash line (.182/.317/.292) doesn’t jump off the page as incredible, his BABIP of .309 does. According to Baseball Trade Values, this is another example of the Mariners overpaying for Davies.

I view this trade as the Mariners offering non-critical prospects for a pitcher who we could re-sign after this season if he puts together quality starts down the stretch. Dipoto’s been clear that rentals are of no interest to the organization (thank goodness), but Davies is far from a rental – he’s a 28-year-old with the potential to bring the Mariners to the postseason for the first time since 2002.

Given that the Mariners just won 3 out of 4 against Oakland, and took the first game against Houston, the Mariners are in a position to really make a strong push to win in 2021. They’re 1.0g back from the second Wild Card spot, and they’ve proven that they are capable of beating both teams in front of them in the AL West with their current roster. Imagine how this team performs if we’re able to stop treating every fifth game as a throwaway start.

One intangible advantage that the Mariners have over other teams: Davies was born and raised in Puyallup, WA. Nothing better than making a trade to bring a local boy back to the PNW to bring Seattle its first playoff appearance since 2002.