4 change-of-scenery trade candidates who could transform Mariners for 2027

There's no denying the stars let the Mariners down this season, with the likes of Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and Josh Naylor all having career-worst years. As a result, a team picked by many as preseason favorites to represent the AL in the World Series, instead went a disastrous 76-86 with arguably the most disappointing campaign in franchise history. However, this goes beyond just the big names failing to perform up to their usual standard.

Baseball is the very definition of a team game in which you are often only as good as your weakest parts, and the reality is the Mariners just didn't have enough quality depth on their roster. Aside from the stars not doing their job, this was also cruelly exposed by a ridiculous number of injuries. As such, lets consider four players who might not be household names, but have talent and could benefit from starting over in Seattle and at the same time help turn the Mariners back into World Series contenders next year.

4 players who can shake up both themselves and the Mariners

1) Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees

Assuming Mariners fans can bring themselves to watch the playoffs sans their team, they should be familiar with the name of Anthony Volpe. After all, it was his potential game-tying homer in Game 3 of the ALDS versus the Rays which was changed to a double after review due to fan interference, as the Yankees were ultimately swept. In some respects though, the incident helped summarize what was the most challenging season of Volpe's four years in the majors.

The 25-year-old started the 2026 campaign on the Injured List as he continued his recovery from left shoulder surgery, but could never quite get back on track even when he did return. The result was a career-low 70 games with the Yankees, although he did still have his moments with the bat and displayed the defensive skills which earned him a Gold Glove in 2023. He's only two seasons removed from a 3.5 bWAR, has 20-20 upside and with two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, is the type of unsung hero who could appeal to the Mariners.

2) Kristian Campbell, Boston Red Sox

Of our quartet, Kristian Campbell is the one who has arguably caused the most frustration for their team. The 2023 fourth-rounder was a consensus top-10 prospect ahead of the 2025 season and the Red Sox thought enough to sign him to an eight-year, $60 million extension. However, after getting off to a blistering pace that saw him hit .301 with a .902 OPS and 151 wRC+ through April, he fell off the proverbial cliff ledge and has yet to climb back up.

Campbell did not see a single second of action this season in the majors, which admittedly looks bad, although he does deserve credit for buckling down and working hard in Triple-A Worcester. He overcame a prolonged slump caused by minor injuries and illness and from the beginning of July onwards hit .320 with a .973 OPS and 154 wRC+. It also seems moving to the outfield full-time has helped and he appears ready to step back up to the majors and finally fulfil his potential, although we acknowledge his contract remains the main stumbling block to the Mariners making any move.

3) Mark Vientos, New York Mets

The 2024 season represented a breakout campaign for Mark Vientos, as he hit .266 with a .837 OPS and 134 OPS+ across 111 games. However, as opposed to being a launching pad for his Major League career, this instead seems to have been an outlier and now his future with the Mets is very much up in the air. Compounding his struggles at the plate is below average defense at first and third base, despite the hard work he's put in to improve this area of his game.

We appreciate we're not making Vientos sound particularly appealing so far, but that 2024 season does allude to his legitimate power at the plate. He's particularly good versus lefties as evidenced by a .809 OPS this season, something which should interest a Mariners lineup which ranked dead last in this area. There's a growing sentiment that it's time for the Mets to move on from the 26-year-old, and with him not set to become an unrestricted free agent until 2030, he might just make sense in Seattle.

4) Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers

No one doubts that Spencer Torkelson has talent -- it's why he was drafted first overall in 2020 --- but this can be preceded by words like mercurial and erratic. No one knew quite what to expect from him in 2026 quite literally from month-to-month, highlighted by a .638 OPS in August followed by a 1.080 OPS in September. This was a guy who equalled a Tigers franchise record with home runs in five consecutive games, but also had a K% which ranked in the third percentile,

Torkelson offers very little defensively, but has the makings of a dangerous DH thanks to good power highlighted by a LA sweet-spot% which ranks in the 99th percentile. The question is whether he's attainable with two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, with Tony Paul of The Detroit News saying president Scott Harris sounds committed to the 27-year-old. Although Paul does add the Tigers have two prospects in sluggers Josue Briceno and Thayron Liranzo who would also potentially offer better defense at first base, so perhaps the Mariners could test just how committed Harris is to Torkelson.

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