5 Young Players the Seattle Mariners Can Add Via Trade

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The Seattle Mariners have been rumored to be interested in several big-name players this offseason. They have been linked to the likes of Kris Bryant, Trevor Story, and Matt Chapman for their infield needs. The same ideas of them trying to acquire veteran players to fill their holes and win now have been tossed around for months. What if the Mariners targeted young players with small amounts of big-league time or prospects ready to impact their club now and in the future?

The Mariners are just coming out of their rebuild, but here are some players they could target to be around for the long haul with the team.

Sixto Sanchez, Miami Marlins RHP

MIAMI, FLORIDA – AUGUST 28: Sixto Sanchez #42 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Marlins Park on August 28, 2020 in Miami, Florida. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Sixto Sanchez has widely been regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball for some time now. He was traded from the Phillies to the Marlins as part of the J.T. Realmuto trade package and made his debut for the Marlins in 2020. He was added to the roster to help with their playoff push in the shortened season, and he did not disappoint. He made seven starts, reaching 39 innings.

In those 39 innings, he showed off his 70 grade fastball, as well as his plus changeup. Those two pitches are great for him, and he used them for quality pitches against big league hitters at age 21. He also used his cutter and curveball/slider that are around average. He has two quality pitches to go along with two more average pitches to make hitters be constantly guessing. He also has at least average control and command, but those should only continue to get better.

To go along with his good stuff, he put up really good numbers. He gave up 15 runs, giving him a 3.46 ERA. He struck out 33 batters compared to 11 walks. He also made a really strong start in the playoffs against the Cubs. He went 5 innings, gave up no runs, walked two, and struck out six. He showed he was ready for a big game environment. He then had a rough outing in the NLDS against the Braves, but he did this at 21, so he can only get better.

There is a certain similarity that connects Sanchez and arguably the best Mariners pitcher of all time. He looks physically comparable to The King. Now, it is not fair to compare anyone to him, but he may be able to be a top half of the rotation arm that flashes dominance. Both are slightly larger right-handers with big style. If Sanchez is anywhere near as good King Felix, he would be one of the best pitchers in baseball, even though there isn’t much of a stuff comparison.

The concern with Sixto Sanchez is his injury history. He missed all of 2018 with elbow issues, and he did not pitch in 2021 due to a shoulder injury. This could be where the Mariners swoop in. If they could get him for Kyle Lewis they absolutely should, but the Marlins might not want to part with him for that. He could be brought in to immediately fill the last spot in the rotation and he has the upside to be a #3 starter or better. The 23-year-old could be a fixture of the future rotation.

Vidal Brujan, Tampa Bay Rays 2B/OF

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 28: Vidal Brujan #22 of the Tampa Bay Rays in action against the Washington Nationals during a the Grapefruit League spring training game at FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches on February 28, 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Vidal Brujan is one of the Tampa Bay middle infield prospects. He can play all three outfield spots as well as second base. He is a speed and contact hitter. He could be a unique player for the Mariners because unlike Dylan Moore, Donnie Walton, and Shed Long, Brujan can actually play second base and the outfield. He is at worst an average defender at all the positions he plays, but he does well with his speed at all the spots.

Vidal Brujan has 70 grade speed as a switch hitter with a 60 hit tool grade. Those are his two best skills, and he uses them well. He had 44 stolen bases in just over 100 games in AAA last year. He is an absolute thief on the base paths. He slashed .262/.345/.440 in his AAA time last year. He got a cup of coffee last year, playing in just 10 games. He should be a bigger factor in 2022 as he is only going to turn 24 at the start of spring training.

Brujan fits the Mariners well because he could play center field for them as soon as opening day, and he gives them lots of versatility. He could also be a future second baseman after Adam Frazier’s contract is up after this year. He gives them a multitude of options and lots of upside. Some see him as a Ketel Marte type player where he can play up the middle. Brujan has better speed and less power than Marte, but they could fill a similar role.

The potential for Vidal Brujan to impact the Mariners defensively, offensively, and on the base paths for the future is exciting. He would cost quite a bit since he is the 21st prospect in baseball. He could be had for some of the Mariners pitching prospects, potentially, since the Rays love pitching. The next target is a second base prospect who could make a big impact for the Mariners as soon as next summer.

Michael Busch, L.A. Dodgers 2B

SURPRISE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: Second baseman Michael Busch #58 of the Los Angeles Dodgers fields a ground ball against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning of the MLB spring training baseball game at Surprise Stadium on March 07, 2021 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

Michael Busch is a second base prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he just had a monster season in AA. He was drafted in 2019 with the 31st overall pick out of North Carolina. In 107 games at AA, he slashed .267/.386/.484, with 20 home runs and 27 doubles. That is a breakout season from a good college performer. He appears to be a polished player who can really hit from the left side of the plate.

He is primarily a second baseman, but he played 11 games at first base last year, giving him more versatility. He played left field in college as well, so that could be in his profile as well. The Mariners would want to add him to get him experience in AAA Tacoma in 2022, potentially making his way to the big leagues later in the year. He could be a player that they want to play second base next year for them and beyond.

MLB Pipeline projects Busch to be a quality player, with 45 or better grades everywhere across the board: 55 hit tool, 55 power, 45 runner, 45 arm strength, and 45 fielding grade. They even say he could be a Max Muncy type player. If the Mariners were to add their version of Max Muncy who can hit for a little better average, that is huge. Michael Busch could be a key contributor to the Mariners rebuild and their future.

He would not cost as much as Vidal Brujan, but he is still a top 100 or so prospect. He is ranked in the 70s on MLB Pipeline. The Mariners could use him as a left-handed bat soon for their lineup.

Drew Waters, Atlanta Braves OF

DENVER, CO – JULY 11: Drew Waters #11 of National League Futures Team bats against the American League Futures Team during a game at Coors Field on July 11, 2021 in Denver, Colorado.(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Drew Waters was one of the higher thought of prospects back before the pandemic started. He had a great 2019 season, putting up great numbers in over 100 games at AA and then continuing to show he was ascending in AAA in a small sample. He then missed all of 2020 and he struggled a bit in 2021 in AAA. He slashed .240/.329/.381 in 404 plate appearances for the AAA Braves affiliate.

Waters is a switch hitter who can play all three outfield spots, especially center field. He is probably not going to play center field in Atlanta because Christian Pache is a phenomenal defender. Waters is still a 60-grade defender according to MLB Pipeline. They did not give Waters a grade lower than average. Both MLB Pipeline and Prospects Live see him as a slightly better than average hitter for average with average power.

Both see him as having both an above-average arm and speed. Prospects Live has him as just an average defender, but if he is average at worst, especially as a center fielder, the Mariners could certainly use him. An outfield with the future potential to have Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez, and Drew Waters could be one of the best in baseball. They could bring him in this winter with the potential for him to be the center fielder from day one.

Drew Waters gives the Mariners a true center fielder that can impact them for the future and the now, but he would still cost a fair amount. The Mariners would have to give up impact future players for him. With all of these players, Harry Ford could be an interesting option as a one-for-one swap, if the Mariners want to win immediately. Trading Ford for someone of similar caliber that is farther along could benefit the Mariners.

Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins RHP

MIAMI, FLORIDA – AUGUST 25: Edward Cabrera #79 of the Miami Marlins reacts to a double play during the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at loanDepot park on August 25, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Edward Cabrera is another one of the Marlins pitchers who have a little bit of big-league experience. He made his debut in 2021 for the fish, starting 7 games and accumulating 26.1 innings. He allowed 17 runs, so he did not come out to have a great short debut performance, but he has shown in the minors and in flashes in Miami that he is a good pitching prospect. He pitched at four levels last year, from A ball all the way to the big leagues.

He did not allow a run in six innings in A ball, and he continued to be dominant in AA. He had a sub-three ERA, struck out over 11 per nine innings, and only walked about two per nine innings. He then went to AAA and he put up similar numbers, but his walks per nine rose by three.

That was the most concerning thing, but besides that, he performed very well. His K/9 did rise to over 14 in AAA as well. Those numbers declined in the majors, as he struck out fewer batters and walked more.

Edward Cabrera has a solid four-pitch mix, led by a fastball that averages 97 mph. He also has a plus change-up that is surprisingly 92 mph. He mixes in an average slider and curveball as well to complete his arsenal. He could be a mid-rotation arm at best, but the Mariners could certainly use that going forward. If he were to be acquired by the M’s and fans debate for the next five years if he or Logan Gilbert is the better starter, that is a great conversation to have.

Next. Why Mariners Will NOT Trade Mitch Haniger. dark

The Mariners would again have to part with something significant, but probably not pitching here. If they could move some outfield prospects, maybe a Zach DeLoach plus more, that could be a way to add the current Marlins starting pitcher. The Mariners have some very interesting options here of players to go add to help them now and in the future. It could be an interesting way to add to their team by trading lower-level prospects for players ready to impact the big league club.

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