The Mariners’ pitching depth over the previous few seasons has drawn many groups into commerce talks and it was virtually precisely a 12 months in the past that stories surfaced about Boston’s curiosity within the Seattle rotation. Nothing materialized between the 2 groups then, however Ryan Divish and Adam Jude of the Seattle Instances report that earlier this offseason, the Purple Sox provided first baseman Triston Casas for both Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo. Nonetheless, these “exploratory talks” then “didn’t progress any additional,” because the M’s don’t have curiosity in buying and selling from their rotation until it’s one thing of a final resort.
Given the contrasting strengths and weaknesses of the Mariners and Purple Sox, a pitching-for-hitting swap would appear like a great reply to each group’s wants. Whereas Miller or Woo won’t be exactly the sort of ace the Sox are searching for to strengthen their rotation, clearly each are proficient younger arms with upside and group management — neither Miller or Woo is eligible for arbitration but, and each are managed via the 2029 season. Likewise, Casas is managed via 2028 and has already proven glimpses of his potential on the MLB degree.
Seattle president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has persistently turned down previous affords for Miller, Woo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and Luis Castillo. Current stories recommend that the M’s are a minimum of open to listening to what groups should say about Castillo (the oldest and highest-paid member of the rotation), however Divish and Jude write that “the Mariners….should not actively purchasing Castillo.”
Nothing is stopping Dipoto from listening to what groups might need to say, simply in case somebody steps forth with a proposal too good to refuse. Nonetheless, Dipoto advised Divish and different reporters right now that “our preliminary reluctance to any kind of deeper discussions on buying and selling beginning pitching has in all probability resulted in so much fewer cellphone calls than we’ve normally fielded up to now within the offseason.”
The result’s maybe one thing of a stalemate, because the Mariners are ready for rival groups to decrease their asking costs and different golf equipment are ready for the M’s to grow to be extra open to the concept of buying and selling from the rotation depth. Issues may evolve as soon as some free agent pitchers come off the board, or maybe if the Mariners themselves added a pitcher within the type of Roki Sasaki. Whereas just about each group in baseball can be making an enchantment to the Japanese ace now that his posting window is formally open, Seattle’s observe report with each pitching improvement and star Japanese gamers would seemingly put the M’s transfer above most groups within the bidding course of.
Within the interim, it appears as if the Mariners will proceed to give attention to making an attempt to commerce from its minor league depth, besides as Dipoto notes, “it’s the time the place prospects aren’t a driver, the place nearly all people is concentrated on main league gamers. And I don’t know why that appears totally different to me now than it normally does, and perhaps that too modifications in per week or two with the free agent market actually opening up.”
Since shortstop J.P. Crawford is the one established member of the Mariners’ infield, touchdown a promising first base expertise like Casas would go a great distance in the direction of shoring up the infield and the shaky lineup as a complete. That stated, the Mariners have a minimum of a part-time first base possibility already in Luke Raley, who seems to be getting a very good chunk of enjoying time towards right-handed pitching.
For the reason that M’s have been linked to such second or third base commerce candidates as Nico Hoerner or Alec Bohm, it may very well be that Seattle is perhaps making an attempt to handle a type of positions first earlier than turning to the comparatively easier-to-fill place of first base. An business supply advised Divish and Jude that the Mariners may look into making an attempt so as to add a 3rd group into talks with the Cubs about Hoerner, maybe to assist cowl a few of the cash owed within the remaining two years of Hoerner’s contract.
From Boston’s perspective, buying and selling Casas wouldn’t essentially create a emptiness at first base. Rafael Devers is a subpar defender at third base, and reportedly the Sox have a minimum of thought of transferring him to first base with the intention to open up the new nook both for one in all Boston’s up-and-coming infield prospects, or maybe for an enormous free agent like Alex Bregman. This stays a speculative matter for now, as supervisor Alex Cora advised reporters (together with Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe) right now that he hasn’t spoken with Devers a few place change, and Cora in actual fact praised Devers’ third base work in 2024 as “excellent.”
Then once more, there isn’t any scarcity of gamesmanship occurring through the offseason, because it was simply final month that Purple Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow downplayed the concept of buying and selling Casas. Reviews then surfaced this previous weekend that the Sox have been contemplating the potential of dealing Casas for pitching, and this obvious provide for Miller or Woo solely reinforces the concept that Casas is much from an untouchable a part of the Purple Sox roster. After all, this additionally isn’t to say that Casas goes to be moved for something lower than a premium return.
