The Seattle Mariners have a clear problem, and it starts with the right side of the plate. They need another right-handed bat, and the current answer has not been enough.
Rob Refsnyder’s .422 OPS before he landed on the injured list simply wasn’t moving the needle. That’s part of why Bleacher Report’s Kery Miller pointed out just how ugly the numbers have been for Seattle against left-handed pitching.
"Thanks in large part to both Cal Raleigh and Rob Refsnyder looking like shells of their former selves, the Mariners have an MLB-worst .622 OPS against left-handed pitching this season," Miller wrote Friday.
If the postseason began today, Seattle would be sitting as the American League’s third and final Wild Card team. Miller sees a tough path from there.
"And with that in mind, there's a plausible nightmare scenario brewing in which they'll be the No. 3 seed, drawing No. 6 seed Detroit in the wild card round and needing to deal with both Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez immediately," Miller added.
His answer is a trade with the Chicago Cubs, one that would bring in outfielder Seiya Suzuki and send right-hander Luis Castillo the other way.
"Miller's trade idea sends right-hander Luis Castillo to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Seiya Suzuki."
Suzuki would give Seattle exactly the kind of production it has been missing against lefties. Miller noted that "Suzuki has a career .840 OPS against LHP and would become an everyday fixture at RF/DH for the M's."
The Cubs outfielder has already launched 15 home runs this season, and he set a career high with 32 in 2025. While he’s more of a DH at this stage, Seattle could still make the defensive setup work if the payoff is more power in the lineup.
Castillo is the piece that makes the proposal possible. The Mariners have six starters worthy of a rotation spot, and he may be the most likely one to move.
There is one obvious wrinkle: Suzuki has a full no-trade clause. Still, Miller pointed out that the money lines up closely enough to make the idea workable.
"Notably, Suzuki has a full no-trade clause while Castillo has at least one year left on his contract," Miller added. "But the salary figures-Suzuki making $18M; Castillo making $22.75M-are close enough that the "2026 finances" portion of the considerations shouldn't present much of a hurdle."
In Other News...
Mariners Dream Deadline Bat Comes With One Huge Catch
As the trade deadline draws closer, the Mariners are still looking for a lineup upgrade that can give their offense a better chance to carry them deeper into the season. ESPNs Jeff Passan recently pointed to Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward as the clubs best fit, citing the kind of on-base ability and walk rate Seattle has been chasing as it tries to add more traffic for the middle of the order.
The more intriguing name in the discussion is Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras, who has been swinging a hot bat and would certainly change the look of the Mariners attack. The catch is obvious enough: Seattle would have to sort through an already crowded first-base and DH picture, which would put even more pressure on Dan Wilson to find playing time for everyone if the front office decides to push for a bigger splash. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners May Be Near A Pitching Move Fans Never Saw Coming
The Mariners are sorting through a bullpen puzzle as the All-Star break approaches, and Bryan Woo has unexpectedly entered the conversation. Seattle has a stretch of time between his starts, and manager Dan Wilson said the club is looking at every way to manage the pitching staff while keeping the rotation and relief corps in balance.
What makes this especially interesting is the roster squeeze around the bullpen, where returning relievers and possible additions could force a move sooner rather than later. Luis Castillo has been seen as the likeliest starter to shift into relief, but Seattle is still weighing all of its options as it tries to create room and keep the staff flexible for the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Dipoto May Be Setting Up An Unusual Mariners Deadline Move
Jerry Dipoto is signaling that this deadline may not follow the usual seller-and-buyer script, with the Mariners executive suggesting more contender-to-contender deals could emerge because so many teams in the race have real needs to fill. For Seattle, the list is familiar: a left-handed bat and bullpen help remain priorities, and especially a high-leverage reliever if the market lines up right.
The wrinkle is that the Mariners also have pieces other contenders want, particularly starting pitching depth and left-handed bats, which could make them both shoppers and suppliers in the same week. ESPNs Jeff Passan said those kinds of deals are complicated to build, and he pointed to the possibility of Seattle using its prospect capital in the right kind of swap, a setup that would fit the kind of deadline move Dipoto has been willing to chase before. [Read more 🡒]