Mariners keep getting warnings not to trade high-upside pitching prospect

When it comes to the Mariners' 2024 draft class, most of the attention has been placed on Jurrangelo Cijntje. It makes sense given he's the first switch pitcher since Pat Venditte and has far more impressive stuff. To his credit, he had a strong first year of professional baseball and looks ready for the higher levels of the minors in 2026. However, he may have been overshadowed by his second-round teammate.

Ryan Sloan may have the highest upside of any pitching prospect in Seattle's minor league system

Although he was taken in the second round, Sloan's $3 million signing bonus was significantly higher than the slot value. For comparison, Cole Mathis was selected right before Sloan and received a signing bonus of just $1.68 million. This was done to convince him to renege his existing commitment to play baseball for Wake Forest University, as the Mariners saw him as a very valuable arm talent and so far this move is paying off.

He started the year with Single-A Modesto at just 19 years old and made 21 minor league starts, three of those being with High-A Everett. He ended his first minor league season with a 3.73 ERA and 6.00 K/BB over 82 innings, impressive numbers for someone so young. Scouts reported that his velocity was already sitting in the mid-90s with the ability to top out at 99. His changeup was also noted for being in the mid-80s with impressive shape.

It doesn't take much digging to realize just how much his prospect stock has risen this year and it's a reason that some feel he could be traded. The Mariners already traded away catching prospect Harry Ford, suggesting that the organization's focus is on winning now. This could mean sacrificing more of the organization's future for the sake of the present, as was the intention for the Ford trade.

In an interview with Seattle Sports, Jim Bowden of The Athletic remarked that the Mariners still have their top pieces, including 2025 first-round draft pick Kade Anderson, who could be ready by June or July next year. He also remarked that Sloan is a pitcher that "everybody's raving about," potentially signalling serious external interest.

However, shedding all of their best young arms would be unwise. It may seem far away now but the Mariners will need to reload their rotation sooner than you might think. Assuming no extensions are signed, here is when each pitcher currently in the team's rotation will hit free agency.

Barring any trades, the Mariners will get two more seasons of Logan Gilbert, three more of George Kirby, and four more of Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller. That could be just enough time for Ryan Sloan to develop enough to be the dominant ace he's shaping up to be. There's even buzz that he could debut as soon as next year.

With a World Series appearance seemingly within the franchises' grasp, the allure of going all-in at the cost of a building a winning culture in the long term can be irresistible. However, rosters that appear impregnable on paper don't always pan out and the worst-case scenario for a team is that they're caught in a situation where they're forced to rebuild prematurely.

He may not seem like it yet but it won't be long before Ryan Sloan overtakes the mantle of being Seattle's crown jewel prospect. It would be a shame if the Mariners were to ship him off before he gets there.