3 Mariners players who should immediately be on the trade block after 2026 season

The Seattle Mariners' season is over, and one says so with more relief than sadness. It was a bad year, and bad years ideally beget offseasons of change. New additions are needed, and a few subtractions might not hurt either.

Before we get into which Mariners should be on the trading block this offseason, let's all get on the same page about the timeline. The major league trade market has been closed since August 3, and it won't reopen again until the first day after the World Series. That might not be until November 1.

As far as what must be done, Jerry Dipoto will need to be on the lookout for solutions at three offensive positions. The pitching staff is more settled on paper, but also crying out for a shakeup after a season that soured its reputation.

Let's look at three Mariners who not only could be available in trades this winter, but should.

The Mariners should shop a starter and two prospects in offseason trades

RHP George Kirby

If any member of the Mariners' homegrown rotation is going to go, it's probably George Kirby. He was a hot item on the market before the deadline, and he fits in a perfect sweet spot as a winter trade candidate.

After back-to-back seasons of diminished returns, Kirby no longer feels essential in the same way he did in 2023 and 2024. He's instead turned into a fascinating case study of a pitcher who still has the goods to be an ace, but instead resembles a reclamation project.

A change of scenery might be the best thing for Kirby at this point, and the Mariners are still within their rights to see him as a valuable trade chip worthy of, say, an impact bat. Kirby has All-Star credentials, and he'll only be 29 years old on February 4, 2027. He's under club control through 2028.

Potential Fits: Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants

2B/LF Michael Arroyo

It's always a big deal whenever a top-100 prospect makes it to the big leagues, and Michael Arroyo has better creds than most as MLB Pipeline's No. 42 prospect. The Mariners then got a glimpse of how good he can be at the plate, with 40 plate appearances yielding a .925 OPS.

However, it remains unclear how Arroyo fits into the Mariners' long-term picture. He has never impressed as a second baseman, and that position is Cole Young's anyway. He hasn't looked great in left field either, so trusting him to be Randy Arozarena's heir is too risky by half.

As such, it is as a trade chip that Arroyo might prove most valuable to the Mariners. If they can do a trade that turns his semi-uncertain future into a reliable everyday bat, they'll need to consider it.

Potential Fits: Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies

CF Jonny Farmelo

Whereas Kirby and Arroyo are on the Mariners' major league staff, Jonny Farmelo isn't even on the 40-man roster. He only just made it to Double-A in July, which puts him on roughly the same schedule that Arroyo and Lazaro Montes were on this time last year.

It's also understandable if many Mariners fans don't want Farmelo to go anywhere. He was a first-round pick in 2023 and he's fresh off breaking out this season, having posted an .811 OPS, 17 home runs and 41 stolen bases in 129 games. He ranks as MLB Pipeline's No. 70 prospect, but has the potential to climb higher.

Yet that's only if he stays healthy, which is a major "if." Farmelo played in only 75 games across the 2024 and 2025 minor league seasons because of injuries, so now might be the right time to sell high. Given how much young talent the major league roster already has, the Mariners really need to consider that approach with the top prospects they still have.

Potential Fits: St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals

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