ESPN links Mariners to trade partner that could land them 2 key deadline pieces

Let's imagine for a second that the Mariners aren't falling into a deep and dark void that seems neverending, where they are just as unlikely to hit the bottom as they are to hit an actual baseball. Instead, let's think about a team that is sitting out there as a seller that could help the Mariners out with more than one piece in a deal. There aren't a lot of options when you think about it as you try to find a team that could satisfy that without it costing a fortune.

Enter the Nationals. According to David Schoenfield over at ESPN, the Mariners make his list as one of the trade domino pieces that we could see at the deadline, and it's in a 2-piece acquisition with the Nationals that they would make their move. It's also worth noting that he mentions that the Mariners would need to do more than just this deal to fix their offense, but that's a story for another time. Let's focus on what he talks about.

The Mariners should look to acquire Lane Thomas and Kyle Finnegan

This would be great for the Mariners. Kyle Finnegan has quietly been one of the best relievers in baseball since coming into the league in 2020, posting a 3.34 ERA with a 1.262 WHIP. More than that, he is having a career best year with a 2.32 ERA and a 0.984 WHIP. The Mariners would get him through 2025 as well, so it would help knowing he isn't just a rental but comes with that extra year of control as an ARB 3 next season.

Thomas and Finnegan plug holes in the outfield and bullpen and won't cost president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto any of his top prospects.

I've wanted Lane Thomas for quite a while, so seeing his name mentioned by Schoenfield gets me excited of the possibility of seeing him in a Mariners uniform. Although he was hurt for a bit earlier this season, he has still managed a line of .246/.314/.398 with eight homers and 26 steals. His defense isn't great, but he's better than Haniger and actually knows how to hit a baseball.

I think something like this could make it work. It's a year and a half of Thomas and the same for Finnegan, whereas the Nationals would be getting Canzone through 2029, and Walter Ford has yet to reach the majors. Thomas is a massive upgrade over Canzone, and the Mariners would instantly fill two needs while giving up nothing that hurts them in the next couple of years, pending Canzone turning into a beast.

If this is the deal that is on the table, the Mariners have to take it, and I think the Nationals would also. The hope is that this would be the "B" or even in a dream world, the "C" deal that the Mariners make, with other pieces coming to the team to continue to improve the offense. For now, let's hope that Mr. Schoenfield is correct, and that the Mariners and Nationals can work out a deal.