Whispers of Astros menace hitting the trade block should interest the Mariners

The Houston Astros may be heading toward an unthinkable scenario: placing Framber Valdez on the trading block.

With the Astros off to a sluggish start to the season — 17-17 and 3.0 games back in the American League West — and a roster showing signs of age, Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently mused on MLB Network that Valdez could be dangled as trade bait if the Astros fall further out of contention.

For a Mariners team suddenly in desperate need of rotation help, this is an opportunity worth monitoring — and potentially pouncing on.

Mariners-Framber Valdez blockbuster trade would solidify Seattle rotation and hurt Astros' chance at playoffs

Seattle entered the season with one of the most promising starting rotations in baseball, but injuries have quickly taken their toll. George Kirby landed on the IL in spring training with shoulder inflammation, and now Logan Gilbert — the team’s ace and one of the biggest workhorses in baseball — is sidelined with a flexor strain.

Though the team received some seemingly positive updates on those two arms, if the Mariners want to stay in the AL West race and avoid squandering a strong first month, they would be wise to consider aggressive moves. Valdez, a left-handed workhorse himself, with postseason experience and a proven track record, fits the bill perfectly.

Of course, a trade between two division rivals of this magnitude would be shocking — but not unprecedented. The Astros and Mariners pulled off a notable deal at the 2021 deadline, when Seattle sent reliever Kendall Graveman to Houston, in what amounted to an absolutely wild weekend in Seattle.

That deal stunned both clubhouses, proving that even bitter rivals will work together when the return is right. And the Mariners, with one of the deepest farm systems in baseball, have the prospect capital to get something done.

The Mariners have the high-profile prospects that could headline a package, along with the depth to put together a package for Valdez, though Seattle would need to weigh the short- and long-term cost. Still, the annual Cy Young contender would bring immediate stability to a rotation that’s reeling, and his addition could be the difference in a playoff push.

Even if a deal doesn’t materialize, Seattle has every reason to get involved in the bidding. Driving up the price for other contenders — especially those in the American League — or even coaxing Houston into dealing Valdez out of the AL entirely would be a win.

But if the Mariners are serious about contending in 2025, they should consider going all-in. Few trade targets could swing the balance in the division more than Framber Valdez.