The Seattle Mariners aim to be contenders but have struggled to attract top talent to Washington. However, they can explore the trade market to address their offensive needs, particularly at third base, leveraging their surplus of starting pitchers as trade bait. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies are actively seeking pitching and might consider trading Alec Bohm.
Could the Phillies and Mariners pull off a mutually beneficial trade?
ESPN’s David Schoenfield proposes a hypothetical trade scenario where the Phillies and Mariners swap Luis Castillo and Alec Bohm. In this mock trade, Schoenfield notes the Mariners’ need for a third baseman after Josh Rojas hit .213 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs before being non-tendered, leaving a vacancy at the position. With around $16 million in payroll space, Seattle also has gaps at second base, DH, and potentially in the bullpen.
Bohm, projected to earn about $8 million in arbitration, could provide contact ability to a team that led MLB in strikeouts. However, apart from a strong 2024 season (3.0 bWAR), Bohm’s performance hasn’t exceeded 1.0 bWAR in other years, making him a questionable return for one of Seattle’s young starters. Instead, Schoenfield suggests the Mariners might consider moving Castillo—who carries a $24.15 million salary through 2026—as a way to shed payroll.
This idea isn’t based on actual reporting but reflects trades the league might find intriguing ahead of the Winter Meetings starting Monday. While Bohm has shown inconsistencies at third base, he improved in 2024, delivering 44 doubles, 97 RBIs, a 115 wRC+, and a 3.5 fWAR.
The Phillies want pitching and might be open to dealing Bohm
He is also 28, so he is, in essence, a desirable asset for teams in need of some thump like the Mariners. The question here is if Seattle would be open to parting with Castillo.
It’s actually close to a fair deal. Castillo will be 32 by the time Opening Day comes and has lots of mileage in his right arm. His 3.64 ERA was good, but not spectacular, and his strikeout rate dropped from 27.3 percent in 2023 to 24.3 percent this season. Castillo is also considerably more expensive.
He remains highly effective, though, and would immediately improve the Phillies staff. Will we see these two squads agree on a trade involving these stars?
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