The Seattle Mariners are sitting in a weird spot. They have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, a lineup that can’t score runs consistently, and a trade deadline approaching where they could make a splash. But according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the splash they won’t be making is for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Rosenthal reported that people briefed on Seattle’s plans say the team does not expect to pursue Skubal, despite the fact that he pitched at Seattle University and would be a hometown story. That part alone stings for fans who imagined the lefty in a Mariners uniform.
The rental problem nobody wants to talk about
Skubal is under team control only through the end of this season. After that, he’s expected to land a contract that resets the market for starting pitchers. The Mariners already have Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo all under team control beyond 2026. That’s five quality starters locked in. Trading for Skubal would mean giving up at least one of them plus top prospects for what amounts to a half-season rental.
It’s a hard sell in a front office that has been notoriously stingy with both money and prospect capital. The Tigers reportedly want a massive haul for Skubal, and Seattle isn’t in a position to gut its system for a pitcher who might walk in November.
Where the Mariners might actually spend their chips
Seattle still has needs. The offense is the obvious one. The Mariners rank near the bottom of the league in runs scored and have gotten almost nothing from the middle of their order. They could look to add a bat — maybe a first baseman or a corner outfielder who can actually hit for power. They could also shop one of their extra starters for position player help, which feels like the more realistic path.
Rosenthal’s report doesn’t rule out the Mariners being active. It just rules out the big fish. And frankly, that might be smart. Plenty of teams have burned themselves on rental aces who didn’t get them past the first round. The Mariners need more than one pitcher to fix what’s wrong.
Of course, teams change their minds all the time. If the Tigers lower their asking price closer to the deadline, maybe Seattle circles back. But as of right now, the word from inside the organization is clear: expect Skubal to end up somewhere else.
Mariners fans have seen this movie before. The team plays it safe, misses on a star, and hopes the internal options work out. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t. This year feels like a tipping point where the front office can’t afford to get it wrong again.
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