Mariners Trade Proposal Lands Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Four-Player Swap

With just two weeks to go until the MLB trade deadline, the Seattle Mariners have a hold on first place in the American League West division with a playoff run firmly in sight, particularly if they are able to address a significant roster weakness.

The Mariners have been carried by outstanding starting pitching, making them one of the few contending teams unlikely to target an innings-eater this month. But their offensive production has been another story, as they lead only the Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox in team OPS.

With that in mind, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report proposes a trade that would bring Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to Seattle in exchange for prospects Jonny Farmelo, Felnin Celesten and Ben Williamson.

“Aside from the Orioles, Seattle has the best farm system right now,” Miller noted. “And though most of its top-tier prospects are still likely at least a year or two away from cracking into the big leagues, that’s kind of perfect for Toronto, which would be waving the white flag on both 2024 and 2025 if it unloads Guerrero (and Bo Bichette).”

The Blue Jays sit in last place in the American League East, almost certain to rebuild to some extent, though whether or not Guerrero will be on the trading block is an open question. He has a final year of arbitration ahead, and the Blue Jays might opt to reset around him and Bichette, whom they also can keep through next season without a long-term contract extension.

But the Blue Jays certainly would get more in return for Guerrero by trading him this season than they would in his final year before free agency, and a significant haul from the Mariners might be enough to convince them to do so. Farmelo and Celesten both rank among the team’s top seven prospects.

“Celesten is still just an 18-year-old in rookie ball, but the switch-hitting shortstop has darn near a 1.000 OPS there,” Miller added. “And Farmelo was the high schooler they took 29th overall in last year’s draft with the ‘prospect promotion incentive pick’ that they got for Julio Rodríguez winning the 2022 AL Rookie of the Year. Both are already borderline top 100 overall prospects and could be key pieces of a Blue Jays rebuild.”

The Mariners seem to have an open window and the kind of elite pitching staff that fares well in the postseason. If they can add some potency to the lineup in the form of Guerrero, who offers at least one more year of club control ahead, it could be time to leverage some of their prospects to do so.

Related: Blue Jays Could Opt for $44.7M Deadline Sale While Retaining Biggest Stars

Related: Yankees Face Steep Price in Blockbuster Trade for MLB Strikeout Leader