Mock Mariners-Orioles trade would give Seattle an unexpected solution at first base

We are in the midst of the most frustrating stretch of Mariners baseball we have seen in a while. This team is 100% reliant upon the starting pitching and barring a complete game shutout, they just can't win games. The offense isn't producing at all, and this has caused Dipoto to start to make some drastic moves, rightfully so. Ty France was designated for assignment on Monday and after a couple of injuries to Julio Rodriguez and JP Crawford, the team is now extremely reliant upon quite a few young, unproven hitters.

As we sit just a week away from the trade deadline, sellers and buyers are starting to emerge as teams begin to signal their intended directions. The Mariners should be buyers, as should the Orioles, but the Orioles need pitching while they have an abundance of offensive firepower, this could lead the two to being perfect trade partners at this year's deadline.

The Mariners and Orioles make perfect sense in a pitcher for bat swap

Since the All-Star break the Mariners have easily been one of the worst offenses in baseball. They have scored just 11 runs in six games (only the Cubs and White Sox are worse), have the second-worst on-base percentage, and have the third-highest strikeout rate since the All-Star break. They need to make a move for offense and with their recent injuries, it needs to happen now.

This brings us to the one-for-one swap with the Baltimore Orioles. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the O's are willing to discuss trades for both Ryan Mountcastle and Cedric Mullins.

Mountcastle seems like a solid fit for this Mariners lineup. The 27-year-old is slashing .267/.307/.438 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. He does a good job limiting strikeouts (21.4%), but doesn't walk a ton (5.6%), but that's okay considering his career 113 wRC+ and .453 slugging percentage would be some of the best numbers on the team.

Pair that with the Mariners' decision to DFA Ty France and the team's need for a first baseman, Mountcastle could be an under-the-radar option that could pay huge dividends. When you factor in his production and the fact that he is club-controlled via arbitration through 2026, he seems like the ideal trade target for the Mariners this summer if they can make a bigger splash in a corner outfield spot.

In exchange for the solid hitting first baseman, the Orioles will get a cost-controlled starting pitcher who is blocked, Emerson Hancock. The former first round pick has been serviceable, but unspectacular in his first major league season. In nine starts, Hancock is 3-4 with a 4.76 ERA in 45.1 innings and though his 5.6 K/9 might not inspire a lot of confidence, he has done a good job at limiting damage (especially at the Triple-A level, as evidenced by his 2.06 ERA). Hancock is without a doubt a solid rotation piece with the floor of a number four or five starter.

This might not be the sexy move that either franchise would hope for to address their respective needs, but these are the types of moves that clubs look back on and appreciate the impact that was made. This is probably a solid second or third move for each team, but this is a trade that both teams should appreciate and one that needs to be made right now (at least if you are the Mariners).