Cubs, Reds injuries could force unwanted shift in Mariners trade deadline strategy

The MLB trade deadline is a week from today, and the Seattle Mariners are getting reminders left and right about how fast things can change. Curtis Mead came off the board as an option on Saturday, and injury updates could mean the same for Matt Shaw and Spencer Steer.

Shaw has been on the injured list since late June with a sprained left wrist, and Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune reported on Friday that the 24-year-old won't be activated by the Chicago Cubs before the deadline passes at 3:00 p.m. PT next Monday.

Steer, meanwhile, had to leave the Cincinnati Reds' game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday after feeling pain in his right wrist on a swing. Terry Francona noted that Steer didn't fight him on coming out of the game. "That makes me nervous," he said.

Matt Shaw, Spencer Steer injuries could jack up the price tags for other Mariners trade options

Alas, Shaw and Speer just made our list of trade targets for a swap involving Emerson Hancock. And according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, Steer was of interest to Seattle. He's older than Shaw, but also more experienced and with more of a potent bat against left-handed pitching.

Granted, just because Shaw and Steer are injured doesn't necessarily mean the Mariners can't trade for them. And lest anyone think it's always a terrible idea to deal for an injured player, we'll point to what the Boston Red Sox got out of Kyle Schwarber in the stretch run of the 2021 season.

All the same, the bind the Mariners are in now is undeniable. The Mead trade put a premium price tag on right-handed hitters, and now there are fewer to choose from. Seattle's best bet might be to barter with the San Francisco Giants, whether it's over Casey Schmitt or Heliot Ramos. Both are volatile hitters who would bring even more swing-and-miss to a Mariners lineup that whiffs enough already.

Otherwise, it's slim pickings out there. An unusually rich catching market isn't really relevant to the Mariners. Byron Buxton is purportedly off-limits for all but one potential suitor. While George Springer might be worth looking into, there's also baggage there. There's even more baggage with fellow high-priced righty bats like Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Luis Robert Jr.

Mariners might be better off doubling down on pitching at the deadline

Look, we're not ready to play the "Screw it, just call up Michael Arroyo!" card for the Mariners' right-handed hitting issues just yet. But that one is there for Jerry Dipoto to play, and it's making more sense by the day.

Then there's the other thing Dipoto might do at the deadline: Throw all his weight behind acquiring pitching.

There has been talk of building a "super 'pen," and that's beginning to look like a more realistic goal than fixing the offense. The Mariners make more sense than any other team as a landing spot for Mason Miller, who might be the prize of the deadline. They can otherwise get in on guys like Adrian Morejon, Luke Weaver and Riley O'Brien.

Committing to this way forward would mean risking it with offense, but that's where Dipoto expressed the right idea during the All-Star break. If anything is going to save the lineup, it's Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and Josh Naylor living up to their billing.

Ultimately, the only unacceptable outcome between now and the deadline is the Mariners doing nothing. Just because this season has been disappointing doesn't mean it's beyond saving.

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