Seattle Mariners Should Trade For the Chicago Cubs Nick Madrigal

The Mariners need to find some help at second base. Some people want them to go sign Marcus Semiem, while others think Chris Taylor would be the best option. But on the other hand, they may try and trade for a guy like Ketel Marte or Gio Urshela. Trading is what Jerry Dipoto likes to do. Knowing that, the Mariners should make some moves and start looking at the option of trading for Nick Madrigal from the Cubs.

The Mariners struggled with having an inconsistent hitting second baseman for the first part of the season until the trade for Abraham Toro. Toro was a great addition to the Mariners lineup and he showed his skills at the dish as well as on the dirt. Though Toro did well at second base he is a true third baseman.

With the Mariners not picking up Kyle Seager’s option, it opens the door for Toro to move back to the hot corner, leaving an opening at second. The Mariners probably don’t want to start the year with Moore there after hitting .181 on the year. So, they will need to look for some other options to sign or trade.

Nick Madrigal Would Fill a Position of Need for the Mariners

I think they should make a trade for Nick Madrigal, the former 4th overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Chicago White Sox’s. He was traded at the deadline this year across Chicago to the Cubs along with Codi Heuer for Craig Kimbrel. Madrigal is a bit of an odd player because he rarely strikes out. In his 705 plate appearances in the minors, he stuck out a grand total of 21 times, while hitting over .300.

In his 83 games in the majors over the last two years, he struck out 24 times in 324 plate appearances and hit .317. That is something that the Mariners need. Someone to hit over .300 and gets on base.

So what would it take for the Mariners to get Nick Madrigal from the Cubs…..?

Trading Chris Flexen After a Stong Season

I know that trading some of our favorite players may not be what people want, but it fixes a hole in the lineup while adding to the youth of the team. Chris Flexen might be that guy who we will see if a different jersey next season.

Flexen was a bit of a steal for the Mariners after pitching in Korea for a year. He was solid this season, but pitching is one thing that the Mariners are not lacking in their minor league system. Some of our minor league studs are George Kirby, Emerson Hancock, Brandon Williamson, Levi Stoudt, and Matt Brash.

All of them were in AA Arkansas and all had good years and all who could make the big show at some point this coming season.  With all the money the Mariners have to spend, they could also get a few free agents while the youngsters come up as and get their feet wet.

The Cubs are in need of some pitching and would welcome Chris Flexen, a 26-year-old pitcher who had 3.61 ERA and is under team control till 2027. Likewise, the Mariners need a second baseman and a 24-year-old who is under team control till 2027. It is a win-win scenario for both teams in terms of getting a player that fills a need of both teams.

Trading From The Deep Farm System

This trade option is one that might sit better with fans mostly because it’s easier to say goodbye to players that we don’t really know. The Cubs are a team that is “Retooling”, “reloading”, or “rebuilding” or whatever you want to call it.

Over this past season, they traded four starters for young talent. So it seems like they would like to continue to add some more. With Seattle having one of the top minor league systems in the league, losing a couple of younger prospects won’t hurt them too badly.

The Cubs would be acquiring Zach DeLoach, the Mariners’ number six ranked prospect. A 23-year-old outfielder drafted in the 2nd round in 2020 and who last played for the Mariners AA club. The other prospect is 14th ranked pitcher Juan Then, 24th ranked pitcher Sam Carlson, and 27th ranked outfielder Cade Marlowe. All of them are good prospects but play a position that the Mariners have a lot of depth in already.

I don’t know if the Cubs would be willing to trade away a player like Nick Madrigal who they just got. But if the Mariners could find a way to trade for nick it would be a great fit for a team that really struggled for a solution at second base for most of the year.