As the trade deadline nears, MLB teams are actively evaluating their priorities. Sellers aim to acquire promising prospects who could become key parts of their future, while buyers are focused on gaining an edge over the competition.
For the Seattle Mariners, inconsistent offensive production—particularly at the corner infield spots—has emerged as a clear concern, fueling speculation that they’ll be buyers at the deadline. Still, their pitching staff might also warrant some additional scrutiny.
Jake Bird is exactly what the Mariners need in their bullpen
The Mariners still have impressive starting pitching depth—especially with Logan Gilbert back in the mix—but their bullpen hasn’t been nearly as dominant. Seattle’s relievers have posted a collective 3.75 ERA, which is right around league average.
While high-leverage arms like Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash, and Gabe Speier have performed well, others such as Casey Legumina and Trent Thornton have been inconsistent at best.
Interestingly, a potential bullpen solution could come from an unexpected place: the Colorado Rockies.
In a recent article highlighting trade candidates, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand pointed to Jake Bird as a potential fit for Seattle. Despite pitching in the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field, Bird has thrived this season, logging a 2.16 ERA over 41.2 innings and a stellar 32.0% strikeout rate—among the best in baseball.
Bird relies on a three-pitch mix, with his curveball standing out in particular. Opponents are hitting just .086 against it, and it features an impressive 38.5% whiff rate. He also throws a mid-90s sinker and a slider that acts more like a sweeping breaker with 14 inches of horizontal movement. When used together, these pitches make him a difficult matchup.
Beyond his on-field production, Bird is appealing from a roster-building perspective. He’s under team control through 2028, already 29 years old, and likely to remain cost-effective.
While it’s tempting to focus solely on adding offense at the trade deadline, Seattle’s lineup has shown flashes of potential—particularly thanks to J.P. Crawford and Cal Raleigh—and might just need more consistency rather than major changes.
Meanwhile, the bullpen’s revolving door at the front end highlights a pressing need. Rather than overspend for a big bat at first or third base, the Mariners could find real value in acquiring a controllable bullpen arm like Bird from a non-contending team.
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