Do Mariners have what D-backs want at trade deadline?

The Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks are lined up as fits for each other before the July 31 MLB trade deadline, especially with signs pointing to the D-backs still being sellers even as they’re pushing to hang around the National League wild card race.

Arizona insider: Mariners trade fit D-backs still likely sellers

We know Arizona’s Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor would make plenty of sense as Mariners targets, but there’s another question to answered: Do the Mariners have what the Diamondbacks would be asking for in a trade?

It may seem like the answer is an obvious yes, because the Mariners have perhaps the most well-stocked farm system in baseball. But Seattle’s top-ranked prospects are generally hitters and pitchers in the lower levels of the minor leagues.

And what Arizona wants may not be either of those.

John Gambadoro, longtime host of Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM in Phoenix, joined Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Monday morning to share some insider information on the D-backs. In addition to saying he spoke with the Diamondbacks on Monday and heard “they are still more sellers than buyers” even after sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend, he had useful insight on D-backs general manager Mike Hazen.

“I think Mike knows that this team, even with the sweep, is really up against it,” Gambadoro said. “The problem is you have to pass four teams. If there’s only one team ahead of you, I can make an argument that you could beat out that team. But you’ve got to beat out four teams in order to get into a playoff spot.”

Gambadoro then used an example of a previous trade Hazen made that could be indicative of what Arizona asks for at this trade deadline. In 2017, he dealt then-prospect Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Miami Marlins for starting pitcher Zac Gallen, who at that point had seven MLB starts to his name and was just about to turn 24.

“(Hazen) traded for a player that was ready to play in the major leagues,” Gambadoro said. “… He likes to trade for pitchers with control. Now, it’s gonna be hard to get Triple-A pitchers, but I think what he’s going to be looking for more than anything is Double-A starting pitching. So what do you got? Do you have good Double-A starting pitching? Because that’s what they want.

“They’re set at a lot of positions in the field, but with Gallen and (pitcher Merrill) Kelly maybe not coming back next year because they’re free agents, with (former Cy Young Award winner) Corbin Burnes likely out for the season, they need pitchers that are close to ready, and that’s what I think he’ll go after at the trade deadline. … Double-A guys that are within a year of being ready, that’s gonna be what they shoot for, I promise you.”

Who could the Mariners trade?

When going through the Mariners’ list of top prospects, it takes a while before you find names that fit the bill for what Gambadoro says Arizona wants.

At No. 12 on Seattle’s MLB Pipeline rankings is Michael Morales, a 2021 third-round MLB Draft pick. The 22 year old has a 4.58 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 13 starts for Double-A Arkansas this year.

Another right-hander, 25-year-old Marcelo Perez, has had a strong season between Arkansas and High-A Everett with a combined 2.45 ERA. He was an 11th-round pick in 2022 and is Seattle’s No. 21 prospect per Pipeline.

Then there is the depth the Mariners have beyond their usual five-man starting rotation.

Emerson Hancock, a first-round pick in 2020, has made 30 career starts for Seattle since 2023, but the 26 year old was sent down to Triple-A Tacoma early this month after a rough patch.

Rookie Logan Evans, 24, came back up from Tacoma in Hancock’s place to man the No. 5 spot with Bryce Miller currently on the injured list. He has a 3.81 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 10 starts for the M’s.

To this point, the Mariners have avoided parting with their MLB-ready starting pitching. Miller’s current status probably wouldn’t make them more likely to, especially if the Diamondbacks were interested in Evans. Seattle may not consider Evans a player they would be willing to trade for a two-month rental, either.

The Mariners have the trade chips that could win a lot of bidding wars at the trade deadline, but if the D-backs are looking specifically for what Gambadoro said, that could be a hurdle they’d struggle to clear.

Hear the full Brock and Salk conversation with Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro in the podcast at this link or in the player near the top of this post. Catch Brock and Salk live from 6-10 a.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.

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