3 players the Mariners can target to hack the 2026 trade deadline

The 2025 trade deadline feels like forever ago, but maybe that's because the Seattle Mariners are giving off different energy. This time last year, Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez were realistic targets well before the M's went and got them. This year, expectations feel lower.

It's not that the Mariners are less focused on getting to the World Series. This year's team is built for exactly that purpose. It just needs a little help, and that gets at the real problem: The summer trade market doesn't have a whole lot for them.

The best pieces on the market are starting pitchers (i.e., Tarik Skubal) and left-handed bats (i.e., Luis Arraez), whereas the Mariners need relief help and right-handed thump. There simply aren't as many options in those two categories, especially if Byron Buxton is serious about sticking with the Minnesota Twins.

These 3 players have hidden talents that would be of use to the Mariners

This is not to suggest that Jerry Dipoto shouldn't be in on, say, Aroldis Chapman or Taylor Ward. But he needs to have Plans B, C, D and so on lined up, and that inevitably means taking a creative approach of looking not so much for players, but skills.

So, let's take a closer look at three players who have skills the Mariners need.

INF/OF Willi Castro, Colorado Rockies

Of all the problems the Mariners have on offense, none is more vexing than their inability to hit left-handed pitching. They have a collective 80 wRC+ against lefties, the worst of any team in the American League.

Improvement simply has to be driven by incumbents, and nobody more so than Cal Raleigh. But it's also way past time for the Mariners to consider dumping Rob Refsnyder as their primary right-handed platoon bat, as his 27 wRC+ against all pitchers is far from befitting of a major league hitter.

Of all the players who would be better, Castro is a down-ballot option compared to someone like Ward. But he's nothing if not a versatile defender, and the last two seasons have flipped the script on his switch-hitting profile. He has a 111 wRC+ against lefties, compared to a 90 wRC+ against righties.

Basically, think "What the Los Angeles Dodgers found in Tommy Edman," and you're there.

RHP Michael Petersen, Miami Marlins

As of now, the plan for the bullpen seems to be to wait until Matt Brash, Cooper Criswell and Carlos Vargas are healthy and go from there. One hopes this isn't actually the case. The pen has been a man down ever since Bryce Miller's return put six starters on the roster, and it's not as strong as its 3.59 ERA suggests.

Just from a bird's-eye view, Petersen is one of the sneaky-good relievers to be had at the trade deadline. He's a 32-year-old who has bounced around, but who has found some mojo in posting a 3.18 ERA with a 30.7 strikeout percentage this season.

More specifically, the London-born (yup, that London) righty has annihilated right-handed batters to a .111 average and .349 OPS. Even in the three-batter-minimum era, he could come in handy as a specialist against a tough string of righty bats.

LHP Daniel Lynch IV, Kansas City Royals

If it makes sense to have a right-handed specialist, it makes even more sense to have a left-handed specialist in 2026. This has been a banner year for lefty bats, as their 107 wRC+ stomps all over righties' 95 wRC+.

Save for everyone except Chapman, this is why Lynch should be atop Seattle's wish left for lefty relievers. He's holding lefty batters to a .362 OPS, which ranks up there with Cristopher Sánchez, Max Fried and Jacob Misiorowski among the best marks of the season.

Though the Mariners are already gifted with Gabe Speier and Jose A. Ferrer in the bullpen, Lynch would be able to help them in tight spots against dangerous lefties. There are a bunch just in the AL, whether we're talking Yordan Alvarez, Nick Kurtz, Ben Rice or Munetaka Murakami.

These aren't exciting names, but that's the point. As much as everyone covets the stars every summer trading season, sometimes it's the Steve Pearces and Jorge Solers who win World Series MVP.

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