5 trade deadline deals that could push the Mariners to the AL West crown

It's time to go all in and get to the postseason, and here are 5 trade deadline deals that could get the Mariners there

Division Series - Houston Astros v Seattle Mariners - Game Three
Division Series - Houston Astros v Seattle Mariners - Game Three | Steph Chambers/GettyImages
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The Seattle Mariners have seemingly been on a skid of remarkable proportions as of late. After holding what seemed to be a cushy ten-game lead over the Astros, they now find themselves nearly neck-and-neck with Houston and 3.5 games back of a Wild Card spot. With a 50/50 shot to make the playoffs, this year's trade deadline will be a crucial inflection point and could make or break the season. So which players would have the biggest impact?

#1. CF Luis Robert Jr. - .227/.300/.464

It has honestly been a down year for Robert. His OPS+ of 114 pales in comparison to the levels he reached in 2021 and 2023, but don't let that fool you. He's still hitting the heck out of the ball, barreling them up 14.9% of the time, and still crushes four-seam fastballs. In fact, he's averaging .318 and slugging .682 against fastballs, a big improvement over the Mariners' own .221 batting average and .396 slugging percentage. Don't worry, he hits other pitches too.

Despite Robert not being a free agent until 2026, his current contract is pretty team friendly. Originally a six-year, $50 million deal with team options in 2026 and 2027, he'll earn $12.5 million in 2024 and $15 million inn 2025, reasonable numbers for Seattle's payroll. Furthermore, with Julio on the IL with a high ankle sprain, the Mariners will need a strong presence in center field as soon as possible. The bigger problem will be paying the right prospect package. His deflated numbers this year might help soften the blow but the amount of other interested suitors may drive the price right back up.

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