Highlighting an Exciting Trade Target for Mariners with Starting Rotation Injuries

The Seattle Mariners are on a hot streak right now, coming off of their sixth straight series win over the Miami Marlins.

Before the season started, if fans knew that the Mariners would win six straight series in April, they would likely have assumed that the starting rotation had picked up from where it had left off last year and was shutting down opposing lineups while the offense was once again struggling. However, things have been somewhat the opposite so far for the Mariners here in 2025.

The Mariners need to consider a major outside addition to their rotation: Sandy Alcantara

The Mariners' rotation has still been good, but it has not been an elite rotation like it was last year. The offense has helped win games, while the pitching has not been stellar lately, especially on the road.

The Mariners are in a predicament now with their rotation because they are down two of their five starting pitchers and currently have Emerson Hancock and Logan Evans filling in. Both are coming off good starts, but they are not at the level of Logan Gilbert and George Kirby, who are both on the injured list.

Could the Mariners look to swing an early-season trade for a starter who can compete with the likes of Kirby and Gilbert when at their best? It is unlikely that a trade would happen in April or early May, but the team that just left Seattle made an early-season trade last year and could make one again.

The Mariners avoided having to face right-hander Sandy Alcantara in the three games they played against the Marlins at T-Mobile Park. He was the most feared pitcher in baseball when he won the National League Cy Young in 2022 and followed that year up with another good season, but got injured at the end of 2023 and missed all of last season after Tommy John surgery. Now he is back healthy on the mound for the Marlins.

Alcantara has not been pitching at the same level this year, but his velocity on his fastball is back close to where it was before his injury. If Gilbert is going to be out for an extended period of time or if Kirby takes longer to return from his injury than anticipated, then the Mariners would need to go acquire someone, as Evans and Hancock have not proven to be reliable high-end starters.

As previously mentioned, an April or even May trade would be unlikely. But as we find out more about Gilbert's forearm injury, that could make the Mariners look for an early trade. The Marlins actually made a big trade on May 3 of last year when they dealt Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres, whereas he was believed to be one of the big bats who would be available in July. So, the Marlins have some recent history of getting out early and trading veterans if a team is willing to pay a little premium.

Given how loaded their farm system is, Mariners could be in a position where paying that premium is viable if they have to add a high-quality starter for a majority of the season. The only problem with Alcantara is that he has a large salary, making $17.3 million this year and next year with a $21 million club option in 2027. Hopefully this would not take him off the board for the Mariners, but it is hard to know what the financial situation is.

Overall, the Mariners' need for a starting pitcher in the short-term could be met by two in-house young righties, but they have not proven to be able to eat innings and be All-Stars like Kirby and Gilbert. They could turn to Alcantara via trade and the Mariners pitching lab could be able to find that next gear for him to return to his elite form here in Seattle.