The Mariners have reached the point where a real swing would have to sting.
That’s the case for going after Elly De La Cruz. Seattle has every reason to value its young core, but there’s also a point where prospect protection starts costing you a chance to reshape the lineup around a star. De La Cruz is the kind of player who makes that conversation worth having.
The deal on the table is a big one: Ryan Sloan, Cole Young, Felnin Celesten and Jonny Farmelo to the Reds for De La Cruz.
That’s not a report that either front office has kicked around. It’s a constructed trade, one built to show the kind of package it would take to get Cincinnati’s attention. And it would take a lot.
Sloan is the anchor. He checked in at eighth overall in MLB Pipeline’s August update, which gives Cincinnati a premium pitching prospect as the centerpiece of the return.
For Seattle, that’s the hard part: giving up the chance to develop another frontline starter. That kind of loss lands especially hard for a club whose roster has leaned so heavily on pitching.
Keeping Kade Anderson would soften that blow, though the Reds could just as easily ask for Anderson instead, or even both. Anderson has already reached the majors, which gives Seattle a more immediate option for the rotation. The appeal of keeping him is about roster fit, not certainty about career outcomes.
Young adds a different layer. Cincinnati would be getting a big-league infielder who could help while the rest of the package matures.
He could stay at second base or move over to shortstop. For Seattle, losing him would hurt in a very real way, because he’s the type of player who can help the next team win games right away.
It would also create another opening at second.
Celesten gives the Reds a potential answer at shortstop down the road. In his 2026 minor-league season, he finished with 16 homers, 25 steals and an .821 OPS.
The upside is obvious: an everyday player at a premium position. The risk is just as obvious, because that kind of projection always comes with uncertainty.
Farmelo pushes the price higher still. His 2026 minor-league line included 17 home runs, 41 steals and a .375 on-base percentage. For Cincinnati, that’s another shot at an impact bat, and another path to help in the outfield, where the Reds have consistently had trouble developing players.
Taken together, the package gives Cincinnati a little bit of everything: pitching upside, immediate infield help, a possible shortstop and an outfield prospect with multiple routes to value.
From Seattle’s angle, the case is simpler. De La Cruz would bring power, speed and the kind of game-breaking ability that can change an inning in a blink. Put that next to Rodríguez, Raleigh and Naylor, and suddenly opposing pitchers have another hitter they have to plan around every time he steps in the box.
He’s also under club control through 2029, which gives the Mariners three seasons to make the move count. That’s enough time to justify a bold investment, but it also means there’s pressure to finish building around him.
And that’s where the rest of the roster matters. Trading Young would leave a hole to fill, even if Seattle keeps players like Bryan Woo, Lazaro Montes and Anderson to protect important pieces. Landing De La Cruz cannot be the end of the offseason.
Cincinnati might still turn it down. The Reds would be sending away their franchise centerpiece, and they could easily ask for Anderson or a more established impact bat.
Four players is not the same thing as automatically improving their team. On top of that, re-signing De La Cruz also looks unlikely, which means they will eventually have to hear offers.
Still, this is the kind of price Seattle should be ready to discuss. It’s painful, yes. But it’s also the kind of move that gives the Mariners a real chance to become more dangerous right away.
For a team that has spent plenty of time imagining what its young players might become, this is the moment to consider trading some of that future for what the lineup could be now.
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