Reviewing the Mariners Trade Deadline moves

SEATTLE—As expected, the Mariners made some moves during this year’s trade deadline. Most fans were probably hoping the team would attempt to pick up some players to help during this season’s playoff. Instead, they shuffled the roster around a bit without significantly improving the team. Mariner fans will have to wait for the offseason and this year’s winter meetings to add the necessary pieces to take the team to the next level. For now, the Mariners sit in third place in the American League West and are tied with the New York Yankees, three games behind the Oakland A’s, for the second Wild Card spot. Let’s review the players that are were traded away and those coming to Seattle.

Of the players traded away, Kendall Graveman is the biggest loss. Graveman leaves as the team’s closer and best relief pitcher. He took over for Rafael Montero after Montero struggled at the start of the season and never looked back. Both Graveman and Montero were traded to the Houston Astros. It’s not surprising that Graveman was traded since he is a free agent at the end of the season, but it is a little puzzling they traded him to a team in their own division.

Continuing with the bullpen reshuffling. JT Chargois, the thirty-year-old relief pitcher, was having a breakout year in the Mariner’s bullpen this season with a 3.00 ERA. He didn’t play at all in 2020 but pitched to a 6.33 ERA with the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last full year in the majors. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays, a team Seattle may be competing with for a wild card spot. The Rays are always looking for controllable arms, and Chargois doesn’t become a free agent until 2026. The Mariner’s 12th ranked prospect, Austin Shenton, was also sent to Tampa Bay in the same trade. He is currently a third baseman at the Double-A level.

Now for the players that the Mariners acquired in trades. First, there is Abraham Toro. Toro is a highly regarded prospect that plays all infield positions except shortstop. Since the trade, he’s been off to a hot start with the team hitting .429/.500/.857 with two home runs in six games. He’s twenty-four years old and was the critical piece in the Kendall Graveman trade. The Mariners are hoping he becomes a player, like Ty France, that they can use all over the infield.

With all of the injuries to the starting rotation, it made sense for the Mariners to go after a starting pitcher. However, Tyler Anderson is a free agent at the end of the year and isn’t the top rotation starter that the Mariners need. He’s more of a bottom of the rotation starter or spot starter. Fortunately, the Mariners only had to part with a couple of prospects that were not highly rated in their minor league system to get him.

Diego Castillo was picked up in the trade for Chargois and Shenton. He was the closer from the Tampa Bay Rays. His Mariner’s debut got off to a rocky start, blowing his first save opportunity and giving up a two-run home run in the tenth inning against Texas, giving the Mariners a 5-4 loss. He won’t be a free agent until the 2025 season.

Overall, these were good moves for Seattle. It’s hard to see Graveman leave, but Castillo is three years younger and under team control for the next three seasons. Toro gives them more flexibility in the infield, and there is nothing stopping Seattle from reacquiring Graveman in free agency if they want him back.