3 Mariners who should be worried about their jobs ahead of MLB trade deadline

As the trade deadline is now under a month away, the Seattle Mariners will likely soon begin the process of making trades to improve their squad as they gear up for a postseason run. While new additions are fun, it does mean some Mariners will have to go.

Here are three Mariners whose jobs might be at risk after the deadline.

These 3 Mariners should be worried about their jobs ahead of the trade deadline

1. INF/OF Dylan Moore

The most obvious choice, and perhaps the most painful for fans to part with. Moore is the team's longest tenured player and has been a significant contributor, even winning a Gold Glove as a utility man in 2024. However, his recent slump has rendered him essentially useless, and if the team upgrades, Moore is the easy candidate to be replaced.

On the season, Moore is slashing .220/.284/.396, with a .680 OPS and a 97 OPS+. However, the numbers get much worse when looking at his last 23 games. Since May 28th, Moore has slashed .029/.108/.029 with just one base hit, three walks, one stolen base and four runs scored. His win probably added during that stretch comes in at nearly -0.8 wins.

Moore is essentially just a pinch-runner and late-game defensive substitute at this point. His contract expires at the end of the year, and it feels unlikely Seattle will re-sign the veteran infielder. It's hard to imagine a scenaro where the M's trade for a right-handed bat and Moore stays on the roster. Unless...

2. 3B Ben Williamson

The rookie third baseman has hit for a respectable .256 average this season. However, he does not walk (.293 OBP), does not hit for power (.313 slugging) and has a 78 OPS+. He also has not been clutch, with just 14 RBI in 62 games. In fact, he did not drive in a single run in the month of June.

Williamson's defense has kept him afloat with 0.7 bWAR, but it's easy to see how the team could upgrade from him. Potential trade candidates such as Eugenio Suárez or Alex Bregman would make a lot of sense for Seattle. If the team does add a third baseman, Williamson could be handed a one-way ticket to Tacoma.

3. RHP Trent Thornton

Seattle's bullpen has been good, but not great, and bullpen arms are always helpful to acquire at the deadline. If the Mariners do add a reliever, it would likely be to take the place of Thornton, who has been one of the most inconsistent members of the team's pen.

Thornton holds a 0-2 record with a 5.53 ERA across 24 appearances. With a 1.410 WHIP and a 6.30 FIP, it is clear the 31-year-old is struggling. Thornton has essentially become the Mariners' mop-up man, only pitching in games when the outcome has essentially been decided already. If the team upgrades in the pen, expect Thornton to be the odd man out.