The Seattle Mariners are sitting in first place in the AL West with a 39-37 record. That says more about the division than it does about Seattle. The Mariners have holes, and bullpen depth sits near the top of the list.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Red Sox’s Aroldis Chapman is a name to watch, and the Mariners are one of the teams that make sense as a trade partner. Feinsand listed Seattle, Pittsburgh and the White Sox as potential fits for the 38-year-old lefty. But honestly, just about any contender could use Chapman right now.
Chapman has been ridiculous this season. Across 22 outings, he’s posted a 0.83 ERA with 14 saves. That’s not a typo. Meanwhile, Mariners closer Andres Munoz is sitting on a 5.47 ERA. The math writes itself. If Seattle trades for Chapman, Munoz slides into the eighth inning and the bullpen suddenly looks a lot deeper.
Boston has struggled in 2024. Trading a veteran reliever who’s performing this well for prospects would be a smart long-term play. And for Seattle, a team that has a real shot at winning the division but probably not much beyond that right now, making a deal like this is almost necessary.
Cal Raleigh just came back from injury, which feels like a midseason pickup in itself. But one guy coming off the IL isn’t going to fix everything. The Mariners need to be aggressive before the deadline. Right now, even if they hold off the Rangers and the Astros in the standings, this roster as constructed would have a tough time in October.
A Chapman trade wouldn’t turn them into the favorites or anything. But it would be a real step forward. And for a team that’s already in first place, sometimes that’s all you can ask for.
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