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There has been speculation that the Seattle Mariners plan to trade one of their starting pitchers during this year's MLB Winter Meetings. That didn't happen, but it appears they've softened on the idea based on the rumors after the event in Dallas.
But during the WM on Wednesday, MLB Network's Sean Casey made a trade prediction that, let's say, won't be popular with Mariners fans.
Trade predictions from Day 3 of the Winter Meetings:
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 12, 2024
- Mark DeRosa: Devin Williams traded to NYY
- Sean Casey: Mariners trade Logan Gilbert for big hitter
- Greg Amsinger: Dodgers trade for Sandy Alcantara#MLBTonight presented by @CohnReznick pic.twitter.com/fAHQwkmvlO
What Casey is saying here makes sense, at least on the surface. The Mariners ranked 15th across MLB with a .331 OBP last season and 25th with a .376 SLG. That was good enough for a .687 OPS, 22nd in all of MLB. The offense primarily let Seattle down this season, so acquiring an impact bat to help the underwhelming lineup is logical.
The problem with Casey's statement is that Logan Gilbert is not the starting pitcher the Mariners should trade.
Despite a 9-12 record, Gilbert was one of the most durable starting pitchers in the league in 2024. He finished the season with an MLB-leading 33 games started and 208 2/3 innings pitched. Additionally, Gilbert possessed the lowest WHIP of all pitchers at 0.887 and was sixth in MLB with 220 strikeouts. As a result of Gilbert's impressive stats, he was an All-Star this season and finished sixth in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
Casey mentions that Gilbert "goes somewhere for a big bat" by the end of the offseason, but he does not mention a specific player.
The Mariners are interested in acquiring a first baseman, and there were rumors of a Triston Casas trade. Two MLB Trade Rumors candidates are first basemen Yandy Diaz and Josh Naylor, but neither of them make sense in the long term. While Diaz had a solid 2024 and has a contract option for 2026, he turns 34 next season. Naylor is a younger option than Diaz, but he is a free agent after the 2025 season.
One plausible trade option is acquiring Luis Arráez from San Diego for a starting pitcher since Padres ace Joe Musgrove is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Arráez is a great contact hitter but has negative defensive numbers at infield positions. Like Naylor, Arráez will also be a free agent after next season, making Gilbert far too valuable of a trade piece for any of these deals.
Seattle needs an impact bat to improve its offense, but given Gilbert's upside, it'll be another pitcher (most likely Luis Castillo) that gets moved before Opening Day.