3 mainstay players who must be on the table if Mariners sell at trade deadline

By all accounts, the Mariners are more likely to be buyers at the deadline, as they have been for the past few years. But things could go south over the next week. The team has already fallen to third place in the AL West and their playoff odds have slipped to just 55.1% according to FanGraphs.

With July poised to be the second consecutive month with a losing record and respite nowhere in sight, what players could Seattle sell off to instead bolster their chances for next year?

The Mariners should look to deal 3 players if they sell at the trade deadline

LHP Gabe Speier

Relievers are always a hot commodity around the trade deadline. They're typically on shorter, cheaper contracts, their volatile careers mean you should get them while they're hot, and by August, injuries have typically decimated pitching staffs across MLB.

Despite missing most of May due to left shoulder inflammation, Speier has been one of the most effective left-handed bullpen arms in baseball this year. His 1.95 ERA places him ninth among southpaw relievers with more than 20 innings pitched. As per usual, his four-seam fastball has been his best pitch with a whiff rate of 29.5% and an opposing batting average of just .108.

He'll be a free agent in 2028 but with 2027 looking like it will be affected by a labor stoppage, Speier could be more of a short-term rental for teams looking for more left-handed depth in their relief units. He does have some concerns, particularly with his 4.20 FIP and regression in his sinker and slider, but he could still net more value on the trade market than as an active member of the roster if Seattle's chances of the postseason continue to decline.

OF Randy Arozarena

Seattle's lone representative at this year's All-Star Game is also the team's most valuable player by rWAR (3.3). He's having the best offensive year of his career by OPS+ (138) and leads the Mariners in several offensive categories including runs (65), hits (102), doubles (21), batting average (.284), and on-base percentage (.379).

Although it may seem unwise for the team to trade away one of the few players keeping the team's offense afloat, he'll be a free agent at the conclusion of the season anyway. There's no shortage of left fielders on offer at this year's trade deadline but few, if any, have been as good as Arozarena has been this year.

He hasn't been discussed as a possible target because the Mariners are still expected to make a push for the playoffs. But if the team continues to skid and Seattle is willing to make him available, there'd be more than a few parties interested.

RHP Luis Castillo

Recent reports suggest that the Mariners are finally going to trade a starting pitcher this year and it looks like it will be either Emerson Hancock or Luis Castillo. Hancock is younger, cheaper, and has been far better this year, which makes him the more obvious choice to be traded. But moving Castillo instead could allow the Mariners to ride the fence a little longer past the trade deadline without foregoing too much of their future.

A problem that Seattle has faced all year has been an excess of players in their rotation. The Mariners already have six viable starters with Kade Anderson waiting in the wings and Jerry Dipoto has already gone on record to say that the front office intends on calling him up at some point this year. So more than anything, the team needs to make room for him.

Castillo is undoubtedly the weak link in the rotation, especially given his exorbitant contract and remaining salary. Not only would moving him free up space on the roster, it would free up payroll for the front office to acquire free agent talent or more likely extend existing talent this offseason.

Because of his lackluster 4.85 ERA and 4.37 FIP this year, moving Castillo won't be an easy task but there seems to be a seller's market for starting pitching. Freddy Peralta has similar numbers and is almost certainly going to get moved within the next week, so there are likely willing suitors. The Mariners may end up having to eat some of his salary, but that could be a small price to pay for clearing the way for the organization's younger arm talent.

If the move results in Anderson being called up to the majors, trading away Castillo may actually help the team's playoff chances. If it fails to revive their season, then moving him would still allow the front office to get a head start on preparing for 2027 with any prospect talent they received in return. It won't be an easy deal to get done but it seems like the best move for the Mariners to make right now, regardless of how the chips fall over the next few days.

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