How it is shaking up on the right handed bat market from "sellers"

[Seattle or Bust]

Likelies:

Spencer Steer, 3B/OF Reds

The Reds have now fallen 13.5 games back of first and 6 games back of the wild card as we head into July. They also have 8 teams between them and the wild card which could and probably should... mean sell. Steer is currently the 5th best right handed hitter against left handed pitchers in baseball... rocking a .328/.421/.641/1.062 slash. Just do not hit him against righties and he's the exact platoon partner the M's need... the home/road splits aren't even that bad for him. He is a perfect fit for the M's considering he plays both corner OF spots and can spot start at 3B. Steer has 2x more years of control at some expensive arb numbers meaning the Reds could stand to lose him for some back end of the rotation pitching and bullpen help where they're really struggling. Could the M's trade Castillo back to Cinci in a trade for Steer? I don't see why not.

Taylor Ward, OF Orioles

While some might laugh at Ward's weird overall numbers, a .380 on base with a .350 slug, his numbers vs lefties would be why the M's should be interested. He's hitting .295/.440/.423/.863 vs the dexterity. From what has been reported, the M's and Orioles often do not see eye to eye when it comes to values of players and prospects which is why trades haven't gotten done. That said, Ward is a rental and will be owed around $5M for the remainder of the season making him a realistic target and pretty easy to trade for. That .863 OPS vs lefties, even without immense power, would be very much welcomed. He's also just one season removed from hitting 36 homers... so if he can find some power and combine his now elite walk numbers... that would be quite valuable.

Casey Schmitt, 3B/OF Giants

Schmitt has been discussed quite frequently on this board given his ability to play both 3B and OF and the potential that he's tapping into some long-term production after struggling his first 3 years in the Bigs. Schmitt has fallen on hard times of late, just 2 for his last 23, and his OPS has dropped some 60 points over the last week. All said, he is still hitting a solid .345/.356/.506/.862 against lefties. He's also been solid against righties this year which would give the M's a bit more lineup flexibility if needed. The Giants need pitching in the worst of ways and could be a trade partner given the M's immense farm pitching depth.


Unlikelies:

Willson Contreras, Joe Adell, Byron Buxton, Austin Martin, Christian Walker, Isaac Parades, Spencer Torkelson, Matt Veirling, George Springer

The Red Sox find themselves 13 games back of first and 5.5 games back of the wild card. While some might view them as clear sellers, I doubt the front office has this in mind... at least not on a grand scale. Contreras has been one of the better hitters in baseball... rocking a .903 OPS with 18 homers and 3.2 WAR. I don't see them moving Contreras given that as a team, Boston is 3rd to last in baseball with a 90 wRC+. It really doesn't make sense for them to move one of their only offensive threats if they intend to content in the near future. And with a very solid pitching staff, keeping their better offensive players on the roster would be prudent. Plus, I don't see the M's adding what is ultimately a pure DH given Canzone's hitting and hamstring issues keeping him at the position. When you also consider the money and age, I don't see the M's touching this.

Could the Angels and Mariners now finally link up for trade now that Perry Minasian has been fired? Likely not as Dipoto's beef sits with the Angels owner Arty Moreno... but you never know. Adell is under control for just one more season and his continued volatility has likely tanked any trade value he gained coming off a solid '25 season. That said, he's been pretty dang good vs lefties this year, slashing .286/.330/.505/.840. Adell cannot hit righties whatsoever, so that could make him a cheaper option in acquiring a lefty platoon. All said, the M's likely won't link up for a trade with the Angels and will likely steer clear of Adell given that he's a horrible defender. This one probably ain't happening.

The Twins have clawed their way back into "contention" and I don't see them trading Buxton given that he's the face of their franchise and his contract is more than affordable. Martin isn't making much money and provides value for a team that now has a chance in the AL Central.

Walker's numbers have fallen off a cliff since a hot start to the year the $$ with the drop in production likely makes him untradeable. Parades fits the positional needs the M's have, but his 107 wRC+ vs lefties just isn't good enough. Plus, it's the Astros.

The Tigers are bad so Tork might get traded, but the M's don't need a pure 1B/DH type. He just creates a roster jam for a bat that's not that good. Vierling boasts a solid 115 wRC+ vs lefties, but he's utterly useless vs righties and defensively. He's been worth -1.1 WAR showing his total lack of value vs the occasional hit vs a lefty pitcher... although don't count the M's out given how cheap they are.

George Springer... HA... laughable. Not with that money, production, age, and the Jays not wanting to wave the white flag. Seattle sports writers are MORONS.

[DavidGee24]

Steer, Ward and Schmitt potentially could all be good pickups. However, no way do the Reds take back Castillo, there's no reason for them to. And that's not necessarily a bad thing because I don't think you'd have to give up a lot for Steer. The potential problem with him though is the Cincinnati/Seattle conversion, so we should pass on him.

Ward is the most proven of these three players, and Schmitt is the most irrelevant when it comes to home park conversion. One of those two would balance our lineup nicely.

[HawkandMariner88]

Ward or Steer I guess. Still want a bullpen piece too.