Identifying 4 trade options to electrify the Mariners' lifeless bullpen

It has been quite an odd statistical season for the Seattle Mariners. The team's OPS of .754 is the sixth-best in MLB while the team's ERA of 3.72 ranks 12th. While the lineup is hitting new strides, the pitching has been inconsistent, especially the bullpen.

The bullpen's ERA of 3.54 is skewed by the outstanding success of Andrés Muñoz and strong showings by Gabe Speier and Carlos Vargas. But make no mistake, the Mariners lack depth in the bullpen. Furthermore, it ranks last in MLB in strikeout rate with a measly mark of 18.4 percent.

Maybe that's based on some factors outside of their control and the return of Matt Brash will help, but it behooves the front office to prepare for the worst. So if internal changes don't help, who are some potential trade targets that could elevate the staff to another level?

Mariners Trade Target: David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates

In 2023, Bednar was one of the best closers in baseball and led the National League in saves with 39, a stat made even more impressive by the fact that the Pirates only won 76 games that year. Unfortunately, his career hit a major snag in 2024 and 2025 got off to a similar start, arriving at a 9.00 ERA after his first five outings.

After a few weeks in the minors to figure stuff out, he seems to have returned to form, posting a 2.25 ERA since returning to the big league roster. And despite his earlier struggles, he has still been great against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .606 OPS. With a 97 mph fastball and a curveball with a whiff rate of 55.6 percent, the pieces are all there for him to be a dominant high-leverage option.

With a record of 12-25, it would be ludicrous for the Pirates to be anything but sellers this trade deadline. They already have less than a 0.1 percent chance to make the postseason, per Baseball Reference, and the current roster provides little solace for Pittsburgh fans. However, the organization does have a strong core of prospects they'd like to build around, so a trade with the Mariners could be in the cards later in the summer.

Mariners Trade Target: Justin Lawrence, Pittsburgh Pirates

Another possible option from the Pirates would be Lawrence, who was undergoing a career renaissance before hitting the injured list with elbow inflammation. It's unclear as to whether he'll actually be able to return in June, but if he manages to get healthy and maintain the pace he set while active, he'd be an outstanding piece to have.

After a brutal 2024 season with the Colorado Rockies that saw him pitch to a 6.49 ERA, a change of scenery has given him a 0.79 ERA over 11.1 innings with the Pirates. Despite being a sidearmer with an average arm angle of -2 degrees, his sinker sits in the mid-90s and his sweeper has held opposing hitters to a .087 average this year.

One would need to take a deeper dive into what adjustments were made to drive this massive jump in performance to assess whether this level of pitching is sustainable for Lawrence. But if this progression is real and he's available by the deadline, he could be the steal of the year.

Mariners Trade Target: Griffin Jax, Minnesota Twins

Jax took some time to develop into a successful reliever, but had a breakout year in 2024, posting a 2.03 ERA over 71 innings with 10 saves. He was an integral part of keeping the bullpen held down while Jhoan Durán had his ups and downs.

In 2025, it seems like the roles have been reversed, with Durán finding immense success and Jax struggling to lower his 6.75 ERA. But if his numbers are so rough, why would the Mariners be interested in him?

The most interesting thing about Jax's statistical profile is his ERA/FIP differential. While his ERA is almost beyond saving, his FIP has remained good at just 3.08, lifted heavily by his 36.4 strikeout rate and 4.5 walk rate. Yes, he's giving up way too much hard contact and might need to expand the zone a little bit, but his stuff clearly plays at the big league level.

It has been a dark year for Twins fans. Disappointing feels like an understatement given that Minnesota is projected to be a powerhouse in the AL Central year after year, only to fall short within the first few months of the season. They're already 6.5 games behind the burgeoning Detroit Tigers and have done little to assuage the concerns of their supporters. Thus, a concession of defeat and focus on the future could create the path for Jax to be shipped to Seattle.

Mariners Trade Target: Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals

You might recognize Helsley as a guy who throws pretty darn hard. But unlike some other flamethrowers, he has turned his physical gifts into real results. Over the past four seasons, he has averaged a 1.94 ERA and collected 88 saves, 49 of which came last season. Needless to say, he's one of the best closers in the game.

He isn't as dominant to start off this year, but a 3.46 ERA with six saves isn't too shabby. He isn't missing nearly enough bats with his four-seam fastball, but his slider still has a .136 opposing average with a 35.3 whiff rate. With more work to improve the command on his fastball to tunnel off of his dominant slider, he'd undoubtedly be a tough at-bat for anyone.

The Cardinals are just four games behind the Chicago Cubs, but the road to the postseason looks tough. The Cubs seem like a powerhouse and the Brewers are a perennial force to be reckoned with. Throw in other potential Wild Card contenders like the Philadelphia Phillies and the entirety of the NL West (except the Rockies) and the Cardinals have a 50/50 shot at best to play baseball in October.

If things look even more bleak come deadline time, a move to send Helsley to Seattle could be a win-win for both organizations.