2 trade proposals for the Mariners to make a blockbuster type move for Isaac Paredes

Tampa Bay is a very interesting team when it comes to trade packages. They identify players that they like and are very good at it. They value pitching just like every other franchise but look to maximize players' three-to-five-year window before they get expensive. This could lead to the Mariners inquiring about Isaac Paredes (who is a super-2 player and isn't expensive but is going to be expensive soon).

Paredes is one of the league's best third baseman over the last two years and his club control and age will make him arguably the most expensive bat that could be traded this summer. Paredes is only 25 years old and has established himself as one of the premier bats at a valuable position.

So far in 2024, Paredes has the third-highest wRC+ among all qualified third basemen while possessing elite-level walk (11.7%) rates and strikeout (17.1%) rates. Since the beginning of 2023, Paredes ranks third among all qualified third basemen (behind Jose Ramirez and Gunnar Henderson, though Henderson is now a shortstop). Acquiring Paredes will be the most expensive move that Dipoto could make in his tenure, but could be one that proves to be the final touch to an already solid roster, even if that talent is carried by the pitching staff.

In this first trade, the Rays demand a young starting pitcher from the Mariners, and rightfully so. Acquiring Paredes will not come cheap; dealing Miller will be a painful move. Miller has been one of the more exciting developments from Seattle's player development group. The hesitancy to deal Miller is understandable, but that's what it might take to get a guy like Paredes. The Mariners would also take on Zack Eflin to fill in the number five spot in the rotation while eating some (or maybe all) of his 2025 salary at $18M. The Mariners send Jorge Polanco to sort of even some of the money out. We all know the Rays interest in Tai Peete was real in the 2023 MLB Draft and they get their guy back as part of this trade.

This would hurt the Mariners, and they would have to eat some money taking on Zack Eflin and his $18 million a year, but it gives them a replacement option for Miller. Losing Peete hurts, but the farm is loaded, and parting with him shouldn't hold the Mariners back from making this deal.

While the first one is more realistic as the Rays would be smart to demand a young starting pitcher, this offer focuses more on the prospect capital it would likely require to get a player like Paredes. I am sure the Mariners would be more inclined to go this route as well.

In this deal, the Mariners just focus on Paredes as his cost will be high. He instantly slots in as the everday third baseman, allowing Scott Servais to move Josh Rojas over to second base, and potentially forming a platoon with Dylan Moore or Ryan Bliss (assuming they don't also acquire a second baseman at the trade deadline). Paredes slides right into the middle of the Mariners' lineup and immediately becomes their most impactful bat (that is until Julio goes wild in August...right?).

In this prospect focused deal, the Mariners send an uber-talented catching prospect in Harry Ford south to join the Rays who are lacking catching talent at the major league level, as well as any intriguing catching prospects in their system. Ford is likely to compete for a job next year and could make his debut later this year for Tampa Bay. Ford is a solid athlete who could catch as well as play a number of other positions on the field. Like the other proposal, the Rays also get a potential star in Tai Peete. The Rays love Peete and his ceiling is that of a borderline star.

The Rays get a very interesting pitching prospect in Logan Evans who could debut later this year as well. He fits into their timeline of building for the next 2-5 years and could become a very interesting arm at the back of their rotation. Evans has really exploded this year and getting a lot of rave reviews from Dipoto this offseason. In 64.1 innings at Double-A Arkansas, Evans has a 2.1 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9. He has a solid fastball/sinker combination and an above-average slider.

The final piece is an intriguing outfielder that may be out of time in Seattle. Dominic Canzone becomes a likely name to be included in trade talks with the Rays. Tampa Bay will surely entertain offers for Randy Arozarena and if they move off of him, giving Canzone a shot to become an everyday player could be a very advantageous move for them. Canzone still possesses a lot of value, but just doesn't fit the Mariners' timeline right now.

The Mariners may be more inclined to make this deal over the one with Miller, and I would be too, but I am not sure even this massive haul is enough to pry Paredes away from the Rays.