Tarik Skubal blockbuster leaves Mariners holding the key to MLB trade deadline

News of the Tarik Skubal trade on Saturday evening understandably shook the baseball world, as he joined the last team anyone outside Los Angeles wanted to see. Already favorites to win the World Series, the Dodgers are now even better-placed to become the first franchise to win three in a row since the Yankees in 1998-2000. However, if there's one other team set to benefit more than anyone else from the Skubal trade, it's the Mariners.

This might sound strange for some to consider, given the Mariners are four games below .500 and only third in what is widely regarded as the weakest division in the majors. At the same time though, they're only 2.0 games out of a wild card spot and still in a position to be aggressive ahead of Monday's 3:00 pm PT trade deadline. And now, thanks to the Dodgers, they've been put into a stronger position due to their surplus of quality starting pitching.

It was widely reported that multiple teams were in on the Skubal sweepstakes, hoping to add one of the game's elite pitchers. You would therefore assume those who missed out are still looking to add quality starting pitching, particularly the Brewers, Braves, Cubs and Rays. As such, it stands to reason that the Mariners can take advantage of this, specifically by dangling George Kirby in front of them.

We'd prefer Kirby wasn't moved but, as per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, the Mariners are considering it after being engaged by other clubs about the righty's availability. Sure, he's perhaps currently a No. 3 in a rotation compared to Skubal being a staff ace, but ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan now have him as the top starting pitcher organizations should target. It also helps significantly that he's under team control through the 2028 season.

Mariners are in position to get an even better return haul than the Tigers managed for Tarik Skubal

What's interesting about the return package the Tigers received for Skubal, is you can contend it should have been better. While two of the three prospects are ranked in MLB Pipeline's top 100, a team such as the Brewers could have topped this. Perhaps it was simply a case of teams not wanting to give up too much for a pending free agent -- no matter how good he is -- whereas at least with Kirby, you will get another two years (at least).

As much as Kirby hasn't been quite as effective these past two seasons, it's not as if he has fallen off some cliff and become awful. This is still the same pitcher who has the potential to be a staff ace in his own right, has a ridiculously low career 3.8 percent walk-rate and overall arguably the best command among Major League starters. His work ethic and desire to be the best are unquestioned, and he's the type of player who always wants to prove people wrong, with a chip on his shoulder which would only grow if the Mariners do indeed trade him.

Not that this is a case where other teams need to be convinced about how good Kirby is; rather, how much they would be prepared to give up to obtain him. We're convinced the Mariners could do better with the return haul compared to what the Tigers received, as they look to get players who can help them now, particularly a right-handed bat who can hit lefties. The stars have aligned in Seattle thanks to the Dodgers acquiring Skubal, and it's now up to the M's to exploit this turn of events.

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