The Seattle Mariners are in a position to buy for the fifth straight year.
Seattle is currently 32-30, just two-and-a-half games back from the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West.
In recent history, the Mariners have had a stacked starting rotation, perhaps the best unit in Major League Baseball for several seasons.
Buying starting pitching at the deadline just hasn’t been needed for Seattle. Usually, the team tries to add a mid-tier bat to help the offense.
However, the starting rotation isn’t healthy or pitching well. According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, Seattle’s pitching has allowed the second most runs of any AL team since May 22, going 4-9 over that stretch.
Morosi spoke on MLB Central about how he believes Seattle will approach the trade deadline.
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“You look at the rotation, it is not as healthy or dominant as it has been in recent years for the Mariners,” Morosi said. “George Kirby has come back; he has not been himself. Logan Gilbert, the velocity is still a little bit down as he’s coming back.
“As much as you want to get someone like a Ryan O’Hearn or a Taylor Ward to help the lineup, I think you probably look to get a rental starting pitcher as that market gets a bit clearer.”
The Mariners should definitely add a bat at the deadline, but it would be interesting to see if Seattle adds a starting pitcher.
Bryce Miller and Emerson Hancock haven’t been great, but Luis Castillo, Bryan Woo and rookie Logan Evans have performed well.
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