2 trade targets Jerry Dipoto should already have his eye on for Mariners

Welcome to the MLB offseason, Seattle Mariners fans. While the playoffs are here, it's time for Seattle to look to 2025 as they determine what kind of roster they should build in order to avoid another October-less campaign.

Jerry Dipoto should be busy this winter (well, he'd find a way to be busy regardless) because the M's need help in several areas. If Dipoto wants to get ahead of his rival GMs, there are a few trade candidates he should already be considering.

Mariners could turn the franchise around with Pirates' third baseman

The M's need a third baseman, ideally one who can hold down the fort long-term. Although it's not easy vying for a young and promising third baseman (because they're hard to come by) Seattle could look into Pittsburgh's Ke'Bryan Hayes.

The 27-year-old Gold Glover fits the mold of a Jerry Dipoto guy. Dipoto loves a comeback story, whether by health or by performance. Mitch Garver missed almost half of the 2023 season as a Ranger due to a knee injury before coming to Seattle, which panned out well for the Mariners. Jorge Polanco is another guy who bounced back from health issues with a different team before playing well over 100 games in the Pacific Northwest. Performance-wise, Eugenio Suárez was a guy who saw a 2022 resurgence with the Mariners after battling career-lows in several categories with Cincinnati in 2021.

Interestingly enough, Hayes is looking to bounce back in both regards. He had back problems all season, logging 96 games, which lead to career-worsts in batting average (.233) and OPS (.573). A healthy Hayes can give you lights-out defense and a batting average that would only trail Julio Rodríguez for the highest on the Mariners. He got going early in 2024, mashing eight hits in the Pirates' first four games in what could have been a true breakout season, but his back kept nagging him and it took him off course.

Could Hayes be the second coming of Kyle Seager? It sounds nice and it is definitely worth considering, especially because the Mariners might not even need to give up one of their starting pitchers for him. Hayes is on a deal that pays him anywhere from $7-$8 million per year through 2029. We're also talking about the Pirates here, who never hang onto their best players, nor do they operate in good faith.

Mariners could make a trade for big-time prospect

The sad reality for the Mariners within the next few years is that they will not be able to afford all of Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, George Kirby and Bryan Woo. This was a tremendous staff, arguably the best in baseball, so when their times to hit free agency come, other teams will be in the mix looking to pay top-dollar for some of the league's best pitching.

For now, the M's don't have to worry about that, but perhaps they dangle one of their starters in trade talks to make up for the gulf on the offensive end. An intriguing move Seattle can make is to deal a pitcher for Baltimore Orioles infielder Coby Mayo. He's the Orioles' No. 1 prospect and, honestly, they really don't need him. Sending the pitching-needy O's an arm in exchange for Mayo (and maybe another prospect) could be a worthwhile swap for both sides.

The Orioles want another top-end arm and don't have much room for Mayo in the infield. Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Ryan O'Hearn and Ryan Mountcastle make up a strong crew, so a path will have to be cleared for Mayo.

Mayo, 22, didn't really get his feet wet at the MLB level. He played in 17 games, mainly as a third baseman, logging four hits across 46 plate appearances. Across High-A and Triple-A this season, he hit 25 home runs and 26 doubles in 93 games, so perhaps this is a move the Mariners consider to help their offense while remaining cost-conscious.