Casualty #3: Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo
Now we start getting into it. Could this really happen? Would the team be willing to move from such a position of strength and deal one of their young and controllable starting pitchers for an impact bat?
It's the question that has been asked since the end of 2023. The Mariners have been a steadfast "no" on this, but things change, especially if you can get the right type of return. I don't know what kind of deal it would need to be, you would have to think it would need to be a top-level bat, maybe even more than Vlad JR? Would you trade Miller and his 5.5 years of control for the 1.5 that Vlad has left?
Do you capitalize on Bryan Woo having one of the most insane starts to a season ever? OR do you ride that and hope that he actually is an Ace, and add him to the stable of nastiness that is the top of the Mariners rotation?
Another part of this is that the Mariners don't really have a replacement in the Minors. Dollard is still coming back from injury, Hancock has been up and down, and Evans was moved to a reliever. Would you turn down a Miller or Woo deal for a massive impact bat to place into the 3/4 hole for the Mariners? It's a worthwhile question, and one that is worth pondering.