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2 players the Seattle Mariners should keep and 2 they should trade
Who should stay and who should go? Here are 2 players the Mariners should keep at the deadline, and 2 that they should trade
While it was obvious just a few weeks ago that the Seattle Mariners would without a doubt be buyers, to some, that feeling may have changed over the last week or so. With the Astros surging and the lead completely gone, the Mariners are now on the ropes and need to fight back to get themselves back into a playoff position.
Currently tied for the division lead, there is no reason that this team shouldn't be buyers at the deadline with the division firmly within its grasp, the Mariners will solely focus on adding offense at the deadline. We have heard that, with the expanded playoff format, a lot of teams aren't necessarily interested in prospects, making it a little bit harder to get deals done. For the Mariners, they have plenty of Major League caliber talent that could draw interest from other teams that are looking to re-tool for next year.
The Mariners should keep 2 players that can still help this team make the playoffs while trading off 2 others to maximize their value and improve the roster
With that being said, the Mariners should be willing to trade off some more controllable assets that maybe haven't proven as much, while keeping and acquiring some veteran talent that might not have as much control but has a longer track record. Today we look at two Mariners players that the Mariners should keep and see how they can impact this team through the rest of the year, as well as two Mariners that they should deal in hopes of either capitalizing on their value or moving on in favor of someone who can contribute right now.
The Mariners should hold onto Jorge Polanco in hopes he can regain some of his former self
There may not be a harsher critic of Jorge Polanco than myself so far this year. After I claimed that he could be the best move of the offseason for a team that has been searching for answers at the keystone, Polanco has struggled mightily, but let's be real, what Mariners hitter hasn't? After a run of four or five years as one of the most productive second basemen in all of baseball offensively, the 30-year-old has taken an absolute cliff dive, slashing .202/.286/.298 with just six home runs and a strikeout rate that is over 12% higher than his career average.
I have recently called for the Mariners to look at a number of options at second base, but my tune has sort of changed recently. With those numbers mentioned above signaling a below-average second baseman, there may still be some hope that Polanco can be a productive weapon for the Mariners. Since July 9th, the Mariners switch-hitting second baseman is hitting .263/.317/.368 which is good for a 100 wRC+, which means he has been completely average. That is a huge upgrade over what the team has gotten out of that position the rest of the year.
The Mariners should, and likely will, give Polanco the year to figure it out. Trying to trade Polanco away would likely cost the Mariners a good chunk of money to eat some of his remaining salary (while netting virtually nothing in return) or including some pretty solid prospects in return to get any sort of Major League contributions for 2024. The Mariners also don't have many other options outside of Ryan Bliss, but they have already shown that they won't play the youngster in favor of the veteran, so here's to hoping Polanco can figure it out.
Dominic Canzone has run out of time as the Mariners need a proven bat
While I have been very harsh about Polanco and the leash that the Mariners have extended him, I am ready to cut bait with Canzone and his inability to hit major league pitching. I was pretty bullish on Canzone coming into 2024, even predicting that he could cover the production from the departed, Jarred Kelenic.
That just hasn't happened for the 26-year-old, who is slashing .211/.289/.394 with just seven home runs. His 28% strikeout rate is quite a bit higher than his career minor league average and the lack of consistent contact and power is concerning. At this point, the Mariners need to move on from the lefty and get someone in the lineup that they feel confident about what they're getting on a daily basis.
Canzone was never a top prospect, but he has dominated every level of the minor leagues, and another team might be interested in taking a shot at him figuring it out. I could see a team like the Reds, Rays or White Sox taking that flier. Canzone could be one of a few pieces that comprise a package of both young talented prospects and unproven but skillful major league ready players. If the Mariners are aggressive at the deadline, and they should be, I would think a lot of teams would be interested in Canzone and he is definitely someone the Mariners should be looking to move in the right deal.
Jonatan Clase may not be the answer right now, but could be a valuable piece for a team lacking outfield offense
Dominic Canzone has had over 340 major league plate appearances and has struggled, but Clase has just 43 and needs a lot more to prove that he can be a major leaguer. Clase is one of the most intriguing Mariners prospects as the 5'10 (I think that's being pretty generous), switch-hitting outfielder possesses a rare blend of solid power, an average hit-tool, and one of the best run tools in the game.
Between 236 games in 2022 and 2023, Clase stole 134 bases and hit 33 home runs, showcasing his unique power-speed combination. Clase isn't an elite defender, but his speed will more than make up for whatever instincts he may be lacking. Clase, once again, is dominating the minor leagues, this time at Triple-A Tacoma, slashing .274/.373/.483 with 10 home runs and 26 stolen bases in just 59 games.
Clase could be a key piece in a trade for a proven major leaguer, but the Mariners seriously lack major league ready talent and there isn't a prospect better (other than maybe Tyler Locklear) that has debuted and shown that they are ready to get a look at major league pitching. The Mariners need proven talent and Clase shouldn't block them from acquiring that, but he should be given a long look as a potential starting left fielder either this year or next. At worst, he is an above-average fourth outfielder. At best, he could be a solid power-speed table-setting left fielder.
In a weak pitching market, the Mariners should capitalize on Emerson Hancock's value and flip him for offense
Fresh off a complete game shutout, Hancock's value may never be higher. The right-handed starting pitcher has failed to live up to his lofty expectations. Expected to be the leader of a three-headed monster of Hancock, Kirby, and Gilbert, the former Georgia Bulldog has struggled to prove he is much more than a back-end starter. This is still a valuable role on a contending team, but if we know one thing, it's that this team can develop pitching, and that they severely need offense.
While Hancock doesn't possess the same pedigree and value that he once did, he is still a valuable trade chip. There are quite a few teams out there (Baltimore, Cincinnati, Brewers) that could really look to bolster their pitching staff. Hancock has shown that he's ready for the big leagues, he just doesn't have a spot with the Mariners.
Hancock alone, won't net you an elite, controllable bat, but paired with a solid prospect, he could net you a solid bat with a year or two of club control. He could also be a tertiary piece in an even larger trade if necessary. There are many ways for the Mariners to go about acquiring offense and a lot of the teams that are looking for pitching, have a plethora of offense. This is absolutely something the Mariners and Jerry Dipoto need to capitalize on.
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