Report suggests what M’s could look for in Logan Gilbert trade

With Logan Gilbert heading into his final season of club control, there is a possibility the Seattle Mariners could decide to trade the right-hander if they can’t come to terms on a contract extension before the start of next season.

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If they do decide to deal the 2024 All-Star, it could be for another player on an expiring deal, according to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi.

Morosi, who is a weekly guest on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob, reported on social media Sunday that trade candidates with one year of club control remaining like Gilbert, Cleveland’s Steven Kwan, Minnesota’s Joe Ryan and Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, are “unlikely to be moved for prospects this month, because teams aren’t sure what kind of 2027 season to expect” with a lockout looming, and that “sources say pending free agents could be moved for each other as a way to balance the risk.”

Morosi followed that report later in the day with another social media post that said team officials have told him trade conversations are more advanced than they typical are by this point in November, adding that while the MLB general manager meetings are typically more of a conduit for preliminary discussions, he would not be surprised if a deal or two gets done during the meetings this week. The GM meetings begin Monday in Las Vegas and run through Thursday.

Morosi’s thought that deals could start getting done during the GM meetings lines up with the general expectation throughout the industry that an expected labor stoppage, which would begin at 9 p.m. Dec. 1, would lead to more signings and trades than typical in November.

As for Gilbert, he will become a free agent after the 2027 season. According to projections from MLB Trade Rumors, the 29 year old is expected to receive a $15.4 million salary in 2027, the highest projection of any arbitration-eligible player.

Among Seattle’s talented group of homegrown starting pitchers, Gilbert is the most proven. He’s made 178 starts in six seasons since debuting in 2021, posting a 59-47 record, 3.60 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 1,021 1/3 innings. He led MLB in innings pitched (208 2/3) and WHIP (0.89) during his All-Star season in 2024. Additionally, Gilbert’s 902 innings pitched since the start of his first full season in 2022 are fourth-most in baseball.

It seems highly unlikely the Mariners would trade Gilbert for another pitcher, but it is feasible Seattle could deal him for a bat. In a recent ESPN article, Buster Olney wrote: “The trade market really won’t gain clarity until after the next (collective bargaining agreement) is settled, except in a few isolated cases; I’ve heard Seattle is poking around to assess how its surplus in pitching might be used to add a bat.”

Kwan is a name that would fit the Mariners’ needs in the corner outfield and could slot in at the top of the lineup in a leadoff role. The 29-year-old left fielder is a four-time Gold Glove winner and two-time All-Star. In 734 games over five seasons, the Oregon State product has a career .282/.357/.382 slash line with 39 homers, 127 doubles, 21 triples and 83 stolen bases. Since debuting in 2023, his 92.1% contact rate is second highest and 9.5% strikeout rate is the third-lowest among qualified hitters leaguewide. He also has the 16th lowest outside-the-zone swing rate during that span at 23.6%.

Though it would seem unlikely due to it being a player from a division rival, another interesting name heading into his final year of club control is Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña. The former All-Star and Gold Glove winner would potentially give Seattle’s prized young shortstop, Colt Emerson, more time to develop in the minors after a rough rookie season in 2026 that was cut short by a wrist injury. Peña would also provide Seattle a needed top-of-the-order right-handed bat, and the Astros are in desperate need of reliable frontline starter like Gilbert. It’s also worth noting that a recent article in The Athletic said new Mariners manager Jason Kanzler worked closely with Peña during his rookie season in 2022.

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