3 Mariners prospects who should be trade bait ahead of 2025 deadline

The Seattle Mariners have stormed into the 2025 season with momentum on their side — and with every intention of making a serious postseason push.

Despite navigating early injuries and a rotation patched together with the absence of Logan Gilbert and George Kirby, the Mariners aren't treating these hurdles as setbacks. Instead, they’ve leaned into a "next man up" mentality, grinding out clutch victories and keeping themselves at the top of the AL West.

If history is any indication, Seattle isn't going to sit back and hope the good times keep rolling on their own. When the Mariners see a window to contend as the season takes shape, they’ve shown they’re more than willing to take big swings at the trade deadline.

Just look at recent years: the franchise-changing deal for Luis Castillo in 2022, the bold move to acquire Randy Arozarena in 2024, and the savvy waiver claim of Victor Robles — all clear signals that this front office knows how to shift into attack mode.

With the Mariners once again shaping up as a postseason threat, don't be surprised if they get aggressive at the trade deadline. The question is: which prospects might they be willing to move to land another impact bat or bolster their rotation?

Potential 2025 Trade Chip: C Harry Ford

It’s hard to look at Harry Ford and not immediately recognize the star potential. The 2021 first-round draft pick and current No. 4 prospect in the Mariners’ system for MLB Pipeline combines elite athleticism with a rare skill set for a catcher, one that has even prompted the Mariners to experiment with him in the outfield to maximize his versatility.

But the roadblock is clear: Seattle already has a Platinum Glove backstop in Cal Raleigh. With Raleigh healthy, productive, and the clear heartbeat of the Mariners’ clubhouse, there’s little room for Ford to carve out meaningful innings behind the plate at the major league level. And Ford’s talent is simply too dynamic to be wasted as a backup catcher.

As he continues to put up strong performances at Triple-A Tacoma, Ford’s trade value is only climbing. With several rebuilding teams likely eyeing high-upside talent at the deadline, Ford could become one of the Mariners’ most valuable chips if they decide to swing big. Given Raleigh’s firm hold on the catching position — and Seattle’s postseason aspirations — it would make plenty of sense for the Mariners to cash in on Ford’s surging value while they can.

Potential 2025 Trade Chip: SS Felnin Celesten

The Mariners' No. 5 ranked prospect, Felnin Celesten, is overflowing with talent — and he’s quickly proving why the organization invested in him. The 19-year-old switch-hitting shortstop has the tools to become a future five-tool star, showcasing a rare blend of athleticism, contact ability, and defensive upside. Celesten is off to a scorching start at Single-A Modesto, slashing .343/.421/.463 with two home runs and 17 RBIs.

So why would Seattle even consider trading him? The answer lies in the organization's wealth of infield riches.

While Celesten's ceiling is sky-high, the Mariners already have two other highly touted shortstops ahead of him in the system: Colt Emerson (No. 1) and Cole Young (No. 3). On top of that, J.P. Crawford remains firmly entrenched at shortstop at the major league level.

With three premium shortstops all jockeying for a future that’s already blocked at the big-league level, Celesten could end up holding more value as a trade piece than as a long-term developmental project. His future looks bright, but the Mariners might decide that flipping Celesten in a bold win-now move is the kind of calculated risk it takes to finally bring a World Series championship to Seattle.

Potential 2025 Trade Chip: CF Tai Peete

Tai Peete, the Mariners' first-round pick in 2023 and the No. 12 prospect in their system, entered the organization as a promising shortstop. But as anyone following the Mariners knows, the shortstop pipeline is overflowing — and Peete has since been shifted to center field, where he's begun showcasing his impressive speed and natural range.

However, the bat hasn’t fully caught up yet. Peete’s hit tool remains a work in progress, and even if his offensive game takes a step forward, the path to the majors with Seattle looks murky at best. He’s playing behind one of the most immovable forces in baseball: Julio Rodríguez, who isn’t going anywhere for at least the next decade.

Despite his raw tools and athletic upside, Peete faces the same dilemma that recently prompted the Mariners to move a similarly talented outfield prospect, Jonatan Clase. With a franchise cornerstone firmly planted in center field and a lineup already brimming with athletic outfielders, Peete could hold more value as a trade asset than as a developmental project stuck in positional limbo. Expect Seattle to explore dealing him if the right win-now opportunity presents itself at the deadline.

When a team finds itself on the brink of real October aspirations, tough decisions have to be made — and for the Mariners, that could mean parting ways with some of their prized young talent. With a clear core already established at the major league level, Seattle has a chance to turn blocked paths into immediate postseason impact.

If history tells us anything, it’s that the Mariners won't hesitate to swing big when the moment demands it. And 2025 could present that moment.