The Seattle Mariners’ pitching depth has drawn significant interest from other teams in recent years, including the Boston Red Sox, who reportedly explored Seattle’s rotation options last offseason.
According to Ryan Divish and Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, Boston offered first baseman Triston Casas in exchange for either Bryce Miller or Bryan Woo earlier this offseason. However, these discussions did not advance, as the Mariners remain reluctant to part with their rotation unless absolutely necessary.
Given the Mariners’ surplus of pitching talent and the Red Sox’s need to bolster their rotation, a trade involving pitching for hitting seems logical. While Miller and Woo may not be the ace-level starters Boston ideally wants, both are promising young pitchers under team control through 2029.
Similarly, Casas, controlled through 2028, has already showcased his potential at the MLB level. Despite this fit, Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has consistently turned down offers for core pitchers like Miller, Woo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, and Luis Castillo. Recent reports indicate Seattle is open to listening to offers for Castillo but isn’t actively shopping him.
Dipoto noted that the Mariners’ hesitancy to trade pitching has likely reduced the number of inquiries they’ve received this offseason. The team appears to be in a holding pattern, waiting for other teams to adjust their trade demands while rival clubs wait for Seattle to reconsider its stance. Market dynamics could shift as free-agent pitchers find homes or if the Mariners secure additional pitching, such as by pursuing Japanese ace Roki Sasaki, a highly coveted talent now open for MLB bids.
In the meantime, the Mariners are likely to leverage their minor league depth for trades. However, Dipoto acknowledged that teams currently prioritize major league-ready players, which could complicate deals. With J.P. Crawford as the only established infielder on Seattle’s roster, adding a talent like Casas would address their infield needs and bolster the lineup.
However, the Mariners have internal options like Luke Raley at first base and may prioritize other infield positions, such as second or third base. They’ve been linked to trade candidates like Nico Hoerner and Alec Bohm, with speculation they could involve a third team in talks to help facilitate a deal.
From Boston’s perspective, trading Casas wouldn’t necessarily create a void at first base. The Red Sox have reportedly considered moving Rafael Devers from third base to first, potentially opening third base for prospects or a high-profile free agent like Alex Bregman. However, manager Alex Cora recently praised Devers’ defensive performance at third in 2024, suggesting no immediate position change is planned.
Although Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow recently downplayed the idea of trading Casas, subsequent reports indicate the team has considered moving him for pitching. While Casas isn’t untouchable, Boston appears unlikely to deal him unless they receive a significant return.
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