Mariners Monday morning mailbag: Trades, the offense, and the All-Star break

Ford, Evans, and Canzone and Young for Vlad jr.?

Where the previous trade felt a little too light, this one is close, but may be just a little too much for the Mariners to stomach. 

Vladdy Jr. Is having a phenomenal season for the disappointing Toronto Blue Jays, and it feels as though the clock is ticking on his impending 2025 free agency. The Blue Jays have squandered his early years, and this year feels like the end of their “run” if you want to call it that.

With the rest of this season and all of next year under contract, his value to Toronto will never be higher, but are they willing to punt on this season and next? It'll take a strong package to obtain the face of MLB the Show, and the Mariners could conceivably accommodate.

The Blue Jays have a glaring hole in both their farm and the major league level at the catching position in 2025. There may not be a better match than Harry Ford and the Blue Jays. You'd have to think he'd be a part of any package. This is a great start, although painful as a Harry Ford believer.

Logan Evans has been absolutely filthy this season down in AA Arkansas. He'd be a top 100 prospect heading into next season. Dom Canzone has been a pretty big disappointment this season and is dealing with injuries, but does offer some intrigue.

For me, personally, trading both Ford and Cole Young is where the price gets too high. A year and a half of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is worth three top 10 prospects on a loaded farm, but I'm not giving up two top four prospects for Vladdy, especially when I'm throwing in Evans, who's been arguably the best pitcher in all of minor league baseball this year.

I'd offer Toronto Harry Ford or Cole Young, Logan Evans, and Tyler Locklear for Guerrero, but would not go any higher. Maybe if I thought this team was one move away from being the American League favorite, but does just adding Vladdy alone make you feel that way? It doesn't for me.