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5 expendable Mariners players Seattle can move at the trade deadline for offense
The Mariners will look to add offense, and these 5 players could be expendable pieces that get you that big bat
The Mariners' offense has been the talk of the Mariners' season this year. The team added some big-time names this offseason and Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander did a great job addressing the top-end as well as the depth that this team lacked. With all of those additions, the offense got off to a terrible start. By mid-May, things looked like they were turning around for a bit. The team strung together series win after series win, and though the pitching was still carrying this team, the offense was doing their job when needed (for the most part).
The offense has definitely been better as of late, but there are still a lot of glaring holes in this lineup. The corner outfielders have been terrible (at least Haniger has come through in the clutch as of late), but they just aren't getting the consistent production they need. Ty France struggled out of the gate but was one of the hottest Mariners hitters as the tide started to change for this offense. Mitch Garver had largely been a huge disappointment at DH but has started to turn things around (slashing .263/.481/.684 with two home runs in the last seven games).
With all of that, the Mariners have been linked to pretty much every bat available this year as a potential suitor. The Mariners will certainly add to their lineup, as ESPN's Jeff Passan says the Mariners are in "go mode". As we talk all about names that the Mariners should look to add, it starts to create a roster crunch. So today, we are going to talk about players that may be expendable in acquiring more proven offense.
The Mariners can't wait around for Dominic Canzone to figure it out
There may not have been a bigger supporter of Canzone coming into 2024. He had hit at pretty much every level, and everything supported him having a big breakout year. I even went as far as saying he would be able to replace and even outproduce Jarred Kelenic. It has been a rough year for Canzone and his time with the Mariners should not be guaranteed.
Acquired in the Paul Sewald deal, it looked like the Mariners had gotten a slugging lefty that could tame T-Mobile Field. Aside from one of the best bat flips of the year in a majestic home run, Canzone struggled to really get things going, and it has carried into 2024. A shoulder injury kept him out for an extended amount of time (and he had a short rehab assignment), but there are no excuses for a team hoping to win the American League West and make a deep playoff push.
One of the easiest positions for the Mariners to add offense this year is in the corner outfield spots. Outside of Luke Raley and an occasional clutch hit by Mitch Haniger, the Mariners corner outfielders have been terrible (Mariners right fielders have accounted for the fifth worst wRC+ in baseball). Canzone still has value as a trade chip. He might be a solid piece for a proven major league bat that gives the Mariners more certainty. He has a lot of club control and without the pressures of being an everyday corner outfielder, he might flourish somewhere else.
Seattle could deal Jorge Polanco or Ryan Bliss and the packages would be vastly different
Second base has been a major pain point for the Mariners since Robinson Cano was sent to New York in a major blockbuster trade. There have been a number of names that the team has brought it to try and fill the position with just average production, to no avail. The Mariners have done a lot to try and address this issue long-term as well, adding a number of talented prospects. They have drafted guys like Cole Young who could be long-term solutions, as well as acquired Ryan Bliss, who could provide production a lot sooner.
It seemed like they found their guy, and a very good one at that, when they acquired Jorge Polanco this offseason. Polanco had struggled to stay healthy, but when he was, he produced at a borderline elite level. Polanco really struggled out of the gates this year and it seemed like the Mariners were in the same pickle as in previous years. Polanco was placed on the injured list and could begin a rehab assignment soon. Hopefully, when he does, he returns to his previous year's production and can solve the second base issue.
The man that has filled in for Polanco, Ryan Bliss, has done a great job. Bliss is only hitting .22/.276/.333 in the month of June but has provided a different element to this offense with three stolen bases on the year, some nice bunts and excellent defense at second base. Bliss has given this offense a little bit of a spark and this is a good opportunity to see what he can do.
The issue with both of these guys is that one is a veteran who should be producing, but has been really bad this year, while dealing with a nagging hamstring injury. The other is a rookie who hasn't proven anything, and while he has been solid, he hasn't really lit the world on fire. Both of these names are ones that could be involved in a trade at the deadline. If the team wants to see what Bliss can do, they could look to dump Polanco and see if someone will eat his contract so Dipoto can use that money elsehwere. If they want to ride with the veteran and capitalize on Bliss, another team might really like Bliss and his athleticism. Either way, I don't see a way that these two co-exist on the roster at the same time and you might be better off moving on from one of them.
Tyler Locklear could fetch a proven slugger
The Mariners need offense, so why would they trade their best hitter who is major league ready? It's pretty simple really, trusting a rookie to produce at a major offensive position, is a lot of pressure to put on a 23-year-old. With the injury to France, Locklear was given the chance to prove what he could do, and he has been pretty solid. France was expected to be out for quite a while with a heel fracture, but the Mariners (and France) were dealt great news as Hollander said that they don't expect him to miss much more time than the 10 days.
With France coming back, he will take the first base job back and there is a way that Locklear can remain on the roster, as a DH, but it gets crowded. Garver is heating up and has more proven ability offensively and could be a big reason this offense gets going.
That puts Locklear back in Tacoma where the Mariners could send him to get some more playing time after a quick call up due to the France injury. They could also package him in a deal for a proven slugger. Locklear will have a lot of value, especially if he capitalizes on the chance while France is on the injured list. Locklear has recently moved into some top 100 prospects list and could be a piece in a deal to acquire someone like Christian Walker or Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Should the Mariners capitalize on Bryan Woo's value before something really bad happens?
This Mariners team has been built on solid pitching, there is no question about that. The one through five is arguably one of the best in the game. It will carry this team and if the Mariners hope to make a deep playoff run, it will be because of the pitching staff. So why trade your hottest pitcher with years of club control?
Well, to start, Woo would fetch you an incredible return. Woo has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year (even if it is in a limited capacity) and is still in pre-arbitration. Woo would easily be the centerpiece of a deal that could get you Luis Robert or another super star type of player.
The biggest reason, however, is the injury concerns surrounding Woo. The best ability is availability, right? Woo underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2021 and has slowly worked his way up in innings pitched.
The Mariners were dealt a huge scare when Woo was scratched from his start Wednesday against the White Sox and was set to undergo an MRI. Luckily, those results came back "perfectly clean" according to Justin Hollander.
How much do you want to risk it, though? Do you want to continue to hope that he can stay healthy and give you 140-150 innings a year, dealing with a couple of trips to the injured list? Maybe that's unfair, but arm injuries are a big topic among baseball pitchers and the Mariners need to at least entertain the thought of Woo's health and what he could return for this struggling offense.
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