Julio Rodriguez gave Mariners' front office his suggestion for offseason plans

Julio Rodríguez is undoubtedly the face of the Seattle Mariners franchise. With two Silver Sluggers, two All-Star nods, and a Rookie of the Year award to complement his impressive statistical profile, his extension through 2029 was a brilliant move by the front office.

So, as the cornerstone player of the team, it makes sense that he would have some say in guiding the future of the organization.

In a recent conversation with Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, he has stated that he does not want any members of the team's starting rotation to be traded, a sentiment he has held since 2023. While many teams would undoubtedly be in the market for one of these prized assets, Rodriguez believes they are a necessary condition for success.

“They keep us in the game," he said "They keep us in the game every single time. What I would like to see, and feel like what everybody would like to see, is just more support for them.”

There have been numerous rumors about which piece would be the most likely to get shipped off in exchange for a bat and the lack of serious extension talks for players like Logan Gilbert could be a red flag, but it's still quite early in the offseason. Even then, if the team does maintain its core of starting pitchers, would they have any tradable assets that would net an impactful offensive return?

Few teams has as stark of a contrast between their position players and pitching staffs. While the Mariners .687 team OPS was 22nd in MLB, their combined 3.49 ERA was tied for first with the Braves. Furthermore, Seattle led all of MLB in WHIP (1.08), BB/9 (2.32) and K/BB (3.84). If they choose to retain all of their starters, could they instead deal from their bullpen?

Relievers don't hold nearly the same trade value as starters for obvious reasons but a handful of them and/or other pitching prospects could get a deal done. Collin Snider pitched to a 1.94 ERA over 41 2/3 innings and has several years of team control remaining. JT Chargois was effective with both the Marlins and Mariners, posting a cumulative 2.23 ERA over 36 1/3 innings.

Emerson Hancock may be the most valuable piece on the table, as he represents a young starter with significant upside for most teams. His 4.75 ERA and 5.69 FIP weren't impressive enough for him to hold a steady spot in Seattle's rotation, but he could be work his way up a thinner pitching staff if given adequate time and preparation.

The front office can always look to free agency for their newest pieces, but given the recent spending habits of the organization, it's doubtful that big names will choose to sign. With the postseason still in full swing, we won't see any major moves made until five days after the conclusion of the World Series, which means the front office will have time to think long and hard about what Rodriguez feels is best for the future.