It’s unfortunate that the Seattle Mariners don’t do what they need to do during the offseason to put together a competent roster for some of the best fans in Major League Baseball.
The Mariners’ pitching staff is arguably the best in baseball. If every team in the league could swap it with them, they likely would.
However, the Mariners don’t hit, and despite being only one game out in the National League West, it’s tough to get a feel for where this team could be due to how poorly their offense has performed for much of the past few years.
The Mariners currently rank 21st in batting average, 15th in slugging percentage, and have multiple holes in their lineup.
Depending on how things play out over the next few months, there could be a scenario where moving somebody like Logan Gilbert makes sense. If the Mariners have shown one thing over the past few years, it’s that they want to save money.
Gilbert, who’s arbitration eligible in 2026 but doesn’t hit free agency until 2028, might be somebody they look to move on from.
Given the potential monster return on the tall right-hander, there could be some sense in making a trade for him, if he signals that he doesn’t want to sign an extension, or they know they’ll lose him in a few years anyway.
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That’s why David Schoenfield of ESPN named him a trade candidate, but added that it’ll likely take a collapse from the Mariners for him to be dealt.
“Do the Mariners need hitting or do they actually need pitching? Either way, if they do collapse, Gilbert — who wasn’t signed to an extension like Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh were — would bring back a blockbuster return given he has two more years of team control and an impeccable record for health and durability (not to mention a brilliant start to 2025),” he wrote.
If the Mariners move on from him, there shouldn’t be a team more interested than the New York Yankees.
The Yankees might not have the prospects that the Mariners are looking for, but if they’re willing to move on from four-plus guys, there could be some interest from the Mariners’ perspective.
It’ll take a ton to add him, especially after coming off a 3.23 ERA season, but he’s dealing with an injury right now, something both parties need to be mindful of.
