Pair of NL West teams among Mariners' Deadline scouting efforts

SEATTLE -- As the Mariners fell, 10-2, to the Brewers on Wednesday afternoon, many eyes within the organization were also shifting to the matinee taking place between the Astros and D-backs, and not necessarily to see if Houston would complete a sweep to further its edge atop the American League West, which is now at six games.

Instead, the Mariners, like many buyers ahead of next Thursday’s Trade Deadline, have been keeping tabs on Arizona and tracking if (or when) the club will reach an inflection point that will push the D-backs to sell.

In what’s shaping up to be a seller’s market, Arizona is widely viewed as a team that could teeter this year’s Deadline, possessing high-impact talent that could be moved -- including the best bat available in third baseman Eugenio Suárez.

A “Good Vibes Only” reunion in Seattle, where Suárez played from 2022-23 and helped the club snap its 20-year playoff drought, would be a storybook-level blockbuster. And sources familiar with the Mariners’ thinking have said that the club has indeed begun laying the groundwork for what a potential deal would look like.

“Part of my heart is in Seattle,” Suárez said last week at All-Star media day. “Anything can happen. I don't want to say that I don't want to get traded, because this is a business. You never know. It's something that's out of my control. Wherever I go, I'll do my best.”

Yet, the Mariners will face stiff competition from other contenders to acquire the 34-year-old, even on an expiring $15 million contract.

The Yankees, Tigers and Cubs all need a third baseman and each have been linked to Suárez, whose .918 OPS and 36 homers (third-most in MLB behind only Cal Raleigh's 39 and the 37 Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have hit) have caused his value to soar. It’s becoming increasingly likely that in this Deadline’s environment, where sellers could be few and far between, Arizona could net at least a Top 100 prospect, if not more, for a rental.

The Mariners have eight such players within a farm system ranked No. 5 by MLB Pipeline, positioning them to be among this Deadline’s boldest buyers. But just how uncomfortable the club is willing to get in mortgaging its future is also what it must weigh.

Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto doesn’t like using the word “untouchable” for prospects, but it’s hard to imagine the club parting with infielder Colt Emerson (Mariners’ No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline), switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje (No. 8) or Ryan Sloan (No. 5), one of the Minors’ fastest-rising right-handers.

Beyond Suárez, the D-backs also have first baseman Josh Naylor (.807 OPS, 11 HR), who could also be a strong Mariners fit. Seattle explored trading for him last offseason when he was with Cleveland before he was dealt to Arizona after the Guardians signed Carlos Santana, who was the Mariners’ more coveted target.

If Arizona’s asking price is too high for Suárez or Naylor, or the Mariners are outbid, they’ll have to pivot. The challenge in this context could be the D-backs holding out until the last minute, potentially leaving outbid suitors scrambling.

“A lot of teams haven't decided whether they're in it, whether they're selling,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “All the things that we've heard, I'm sure something will be happening.”

Beyond Arizona, there are other options.

Sources have said that the Mariners have been heavily scouting the Rockies, who’ve notoriously avoided selling but could be poised to do so for the first time in recent memory.

Third baseman Ryan McMahon was an All-Star last year, but the 30-year-old has never posted a wRC+ over the league average of 100 over his nine-year career, which takes into account the hitter-friendly nature of Coors Field. He’d be a far more marginal addition than Suárez, but it’s possible that he could benefit from hitting lower than the heart of a lineup like he is in Colorado. McMahon (.717 OPS, 16 HR) is also notably not a rental, earning $16 million in each of the next two seasons.

The Rockies are said to be seeking multiple players to stock their No. 18-ranked farm system, but doing so would likely necessitate them packaging at least one of their leverage relievers with McMahon. Right-hander Jake Bird would be an intriguing piece, especially for a Mariners team seeking a bridge to Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz.

Elsewhere, Minnesota switch-hitting utility man Willi Castro (.816 OPS, 9 HR since returning from an oblique injury on May 5) would be an ideal fit for a team that values versatility if the teetering Twins sell, as the Mariners have admired him for a while. He’s also a free agent at season’s end.

Same for Baltimore’s All-Star first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, though he’s cooled mightily (.658 OPS) since the Orioles’ visit to T-Mobile Park in early June. The O’s have long looked like an ideal trade partner given their bevy of hitters and Seattle’s stacked pitching unit.

For an organization that bakes in the Deadline as one of its premium roster-building measures, this next week could be among the most defining of Dipoto’s tenure.