ESPN's latest trade deadline intel bodes extremely well for the Mariners

The Seattle Mariners were one of the first teams to make a move as MLB's trade deadline season rounded the corner into its final week, kicking things off with their acquisition of Josh Naylor. They also picked up some bullpen help on Thursday.

It's a decent amount of activity, but it may not be enough for fans to feel confident about the final few months of the season. Luckily, according to some industry sources, Seattle's front office is far from done.

The Mariners have the minor league depth to make a big splash at this year's deadline

According to a recent report by ESPN's Jeff Passan and Buster Olney, there's plenty to be excited about for the Mariners. With a 74.0 chance of making the postseason at FanGraphs, their championship equity is as strong as it has been in years. Trading for a rental bat like Naylor demonstrates a willingness to part with prospect assets in order to win now.

According to Olney, because of their roster needs and willingness to spend, many rival executives still believe Seattle is the favorite to make a trade for Eugenio Suárez. The price for his services is supposedly astronomical. But if any organization can afford it, it's the one with the best farm system in baseball.

Eight of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects are currently in Seattle's system. Even the pedigree within the team's Top 30 is impressive enough for No. 13-ranked prospect Jeter Martinez to be a sufficient price to pay for the remaining contract of Caleb Ferguson. To pick up Josh Naylor for the remainder of the season, the Mariners sent Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi, the 13th- and 16th-ranked prospects in the system.

They've made it this far and still haven't touched any of their most prized young talent. Harry Ford, Lazaro Montes, Michael Arroyo, and Felnin Celesten are among some of the names that could become franchise cornerstones elsewhere. At the same time, the Mariners won't be able to use all of these players for the big league roster, so selling high could be the best move for the team's future.

Even if they are unable to come to terms with Arizona on a deal for Suárez, they're more than willing to pivot to other infield options, notably Willi Castro of the Minnesota Twins. Minnesota's most valuable reliever ultimately ended up in Philadelphia, but the Mariners aren't necessarily in need of a high-leverage arm. They just need someone to give them more depth, so there's still a chance they get a deal done with the Twins.

Seattle is undoubtedly one of the main teams to keep your eye on. With ample opportunities to bolster the roster and a group of fans desperate to watch their hometown team play meaningful postseason baseball, what happens next could kickstart playoff momentum...or be the start of an ugly but all too familiar downturn.