A totally serious case for the Mariners to pursue an offseason Bryan Woo trade

Heading into the 2026 season, the Seattle Mariners were openly committed to keeping their core intact. Now, after the tough year they've had, it might be time to shake things up as they head toward the 2027 season.

What better place to start than with the rotation?

Seattle has one of the deepest groups of starting pitchers in all of baseball. If the Mariners are looking to add the kind of impact bat that their lineup has been missing, they might just have to take a long, hard look at their pitchers and decide which ones are actually movable.

So, who can the Mariners say goodbye to ahead of the 2027 season?

Logan Gilbert is a name to take off the table. He has only one year remaining before free agency, but the Mariners have been open about wanting to keep him in Seattle long term. If they believe there is a path toward an extension, it might make more sense to explore it rather than trade away an established started who is already an important part of the rotation.

However, recent reports make it seem less likely that Gilbert and the Mariners will agree on a contract extension, meaning Seattle could potentially pursue a trade. Even so, if the M's hope to keep their core somewhat intact while also making a significant addition, Gilbert might not be the player to move. The Mariners know what they have in Gilbert, and replacing a dependable top-of-the-rotation starter while also trying to improve the lineup could create another hole that the team doesn't need.

Then theres George Kirby and Bryce Miller. Typically, both players are seen as valuable trade chips, but this season hasn't been a typical one for either pitcher.

In 2025 Kirby returned from a shoulder injury and saw his strikeout rate spike to a career-high 26.1%. In 2026, that dropped significantly to 19.9%. Although his walk rate remained at 5.6% across both seasons, his overall results haven't been nearly as good for this year.

Meanwhile, what initially appeared to be a bounce-back season for Miller has turned into a collapse, especially by the time August arrived. As the starter for both the 22-0 shutout against Milwaukee and the 19-2 defeat against the Chicago Cubs, Miller has seen troubling times on the mound, with much of his struggles stemming from a lack of consistency when it comes to his command of the baseball.

That leaves Bryan Woo and Emerson Hancock. Of the two, Woo seems to make the most sense.

While he hasn't had a perfect 2026 season, his underlying metrics continue to suggest there's a lot to like about him on the mound. His road numbers haven't been the most impressive, but his strong home display has helped offset some of those struggles.

More than just a good year, Woo had a breakout 2025 season. He made his first All-Star team and finished fifth in American League Cy Young voting. His season established him as one of the more impressive young starts in Seattle's rotation. That, combined with his contract situation, makes him even more valuable.

Why Bryan Woo might make sense for an offseason trade

Woo is under club control through 2029, and that's part of the reason trading him could make sense.

If the Mariners decide to add a legit impact bat this offseason, Woo might be their best chance to get one without completely gutting the rest of the roster. With his talent, age, and years of team control, he is the type of player another team could be willing to pay up for.

Hancock, on the other hand, is a different situation. His pre-arbitration status gives Seattle a cost-controlled player in the rotation, and with Gilbert, Kirby, Kade Anderson, and Miller still in the picture, the Mariners have enough depth to potentially deal with the loss of Woo.

But, that doesn't necessarily mean they should trade him. Historically, the Mariners have been reluctant to move pitchers like Woo. And just because they can trade him doesn't mean they will, or even that they should. Woo could be more valuable to Seattle on the mound than he would be in a trade. That's the question that the Mariners have to answer this offseason.

Which players can bring the kind of impact the roster needs? Gunnar Henderson immediately comes to mind. If Baltimore decided to move the infielder, he'd be the kind of player that could bring some life back to Seattle. Another name worth tossing out there is Elly De La Cruz, considering the combination of power, speed, and youth that fits what Woo has to offer. C.J. Abrams also makes sense, especially with the Washington Nationals in need of arms that fit alongside their young core. Woo would give each of these teams a young, talented starter with years of control, while giving Seattle the opportunity to land the impact bat it needs.

Woo is a player who can impact the team in two ways moving forward. He could continue to be impactful on the mound, or he could be impactful enough on the trade market to bring a much-needed bat to Seattle

If the Mariners believe the latter option might significantly improve their chances of winning in 2027, then it may be time to have the uncomfortable conversation about trading Bryan Woo.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow