The Seattle Mariners are one of the most intriguing teams to watch for as MLB’s trade deadline continues to loom. Seattle is 33-33, has a very formidable pitching staff, but could use some offensive help for catcher Cal Raleigh, who is one of the best hitters in all of Major League Baseball at the moment.
In a recent piece by MLB.com, many baseball insiders gave one trade chip that is intriguing for every team.
Who Could the Mariners Trade?
According to Daniel Kramer, the player to keep an eye on for the Seattle Mariners is a former first-round draft pick, Harry Ford, who plays catcher. Ford was drafted in 2021, but sitting behind Raleigh creates quite a conundrum.
Here is what Kramer has to say about his trade potential:
“Seattle’s first-round Draft pick in 2021, the Mariners’ No. 5 Prospect faces maybe the biggest logjam in the sport at his position. Cal Raleigh has emerged as a legitimate American League MVP candidate, plays more regularly behind the plate than anyone else in the game and just signed a six-year, $105 million extension. Meanwhile, Ford — in his fourth pro season — is on the MLB cusp, is so young (22), plays a premium position, is extremely athletic and is a model human being. For all these reasons, Ford could be one of the organization’s most fascinating players to follow for the next two months, especially in the context of the Deadline.”
Kramer is right, Raleigh has become a legitimate AL MVP candidate. It is just June 11, and Raleigh has 26 home runs, and is slugging over .630 with an OPS also over 1.000. He has become just an absolute home run machine. His 26 home runs in 64 hits on the season are good for 40% of his hits going over the fence.
Ford has yet to make his MLB debut, but is certainly on pace this season if it weren’t for Raleigh’s astounding success. The former 2021 first-rounder is just 22 years old, and in 48 games this season with AAA Tacoma, he has six homers and is hitting .310 with a .883 OPS.
What Should the Mariners Ask for in Return?
The Seattle Mariners have a great starting rotation, so it’s likely that isn’t the route they would choose to go if they were to ship off Ford. Offensive production from the Mariners’ infield has been a struggle this season, and it would make sense to target a middle infielder who has power in their bat. The only infielder the Mariners have with really any offensive output is J.P. Crawford, with just five home runs and 24 RBIs.
The outfield is clearly the bright spot for Seattle’s lineup, with Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodriguez taking center and left field.
As the trade deadline nears, we will have a better sense of which infielders are available to potentially trade for. However, it makes total sense for the Mariners to move off Ford and try and bolster their infield as best as possible right now. The last thing the organization should want to do is waste this amazing season from Raleigh, with such a great starting rotation as well.
MLB Insider Suggests Seattle Mariners Should Trade Former First-Round Pick