MLB Insider explains how Mariners and Cardinals could be potential trade partners

The Mariners have traded for Randy Arozarena, but all indications are that they haven't slowed down their trade pursuits and are actively making calls to continue to improve their lineup. While they could try and do something while they are in Chicago, the asking price for someone like Luis Robert might end up being too high.

Instead, they could look to try and pull off a win-win type move between two teams contending for a playoff berth. The St. Louis Cardinals and Mariners are opposites in the sense that the Mariners have an abundance of pitching with little hitting at the major league level, and the Cardinals have arguably too many hitters to play all at once. At least, ones that they want to be giving at-bats to.

The Cardinals and Mariners should make a trade for Alec Burleson

This is exactly the move that Jim Bowden answered in a piece over at the Athletic via the NY Times (paywall). While he mentions a handful of different moves that could happen or conversations that teams should be having, it's the Cardinals & Mariners question that piques my interest.

If the Mariners are willing to trade one of the starting pitchers at the back end of their rotation, I could see the Cardinals offering Nolan Gorman or Alec Burleson to try to get a deal done. If I’m the Mariners though, I’m not trading any of the starting pitchers from the major-league club.

Let's focus on Alec Burleson instead of Nolan Gorman. For those unfamiliar, Burleson is a 25-year-old lefty who can play first and corner outfield spots. He's a pretty big dude with sneaky speed and legit pop. (Sound like Luke Raley at all to you?) On the year, he's hitting .289/.321/.488 with 18 homers and 7 steals, with a K rate of just 12.8%.

They should go get him just on that last stat alone.

He's not even propped up by his BABIP, which sits just under league average, at .287 compared to .292. He's also still pre-arb, and hits ARB1 in 2026. This means that the team would have him under control through the 2028 season. If, as Bowden mentions, the Mariners were to send them non-major league pitching in order to get a deal down, they would have to add some more into it. What would it take, though?

Here's the thought process on it. Hancock is doing quite well in AAA, and is coming of the ever-impressive Complete Game Shutout. He's close enough that he could easily slot into their rotation and be a piece for the Cardinals throughout the second half of the season. You add in Clase for a young and intriguing piece who could be a bench speed guy, platoon OF, or continue to season and gain experience in AAA. Perez was dominant in 2023 but has struggled in 2024, so he is a good flier type who has yet to reach AA.

I do think this works for both teams. The Mariners trade a starting pitcher who isn't on their big league club that immediately helps the Cardinals, and the Mariners get a lefty who can play first (position of need) or OF if they want Arozarena to DH. Maybe I am bias, but it seems like a win-win.