<![CDATA[Sea Level]]>https://www.sealevelbr.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tcry!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec648975-034c-4273-b7bb-61128f6b8fbc_1200x1200.pngSea Levelhttps://www.sealevelbr.comSubstackFri, 31 Jul 2026 05:31:58 GMT<![CDATA[Who are the best rental bats for the Mariners?]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/who-are-the-best-rental-bats-forhttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/who-are-the-best-rental-bats-forThu, 30 Jul 2026 17:37:27 GMT
Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Who are the best controllable bats for the Mariners?]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/who-are-the-best-controllable-batshttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/who-are-the-best-controllable-batsWed, 29 Jul 2026 16:43:37 GMT
Guardians Trade Target: Heliot Ramos | Covering the Corner
Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Who are the best controllable relief options for the Mariners?]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/who-are-the-best-controllable-reliefhttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/who-are-the-best-controllable-reliefTue, 28 Jul 2026 22:42:00 GMT
Matt Krohn/Getty Images
Matt Krohn/Getty Images

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Mailbag Monday: AL West Deals, Hancock and Castillo, Mets deals]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/mailbag-monday-al-west-deals-hancockhttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/mailbag-monday-al-west-deals-hancockMon, 27 Jul 2026 23:56:26 GMT

]]><![CDATA[2026 Sea Level Trade Deadline Plan]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/2026-sea-level-trade-deadline-planhttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/2026-sea-level-trade-deadline-planFri, 24 Jul 2026 20:20:42 GMT
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Bobby Magallanes fired, plus could the Mariners trade Emerson Hancock?]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/bobby-magallanes-fired-plus-couldhttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/bobby-magallanes-fired-plus-couldThu, 23 Jul 2026 22:52:21 GMT
Emerson Hancock tosses a ball in the dugout as the Mariners play the Atlanta Braves, April 29, 2024, in Seattle. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
Dean Rutz/Seattle Times

Read more

]]><![CDATA[State of the Mariners, plus Reds trade targets]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/state-of-the-mariners-plus-reds-tradehttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/state-of-the-mariners-plus-reds-tradeWed, 22 Jul 2026 23:25:36 GMT
Photos: Reds at Mariners
Dean Rutz/Seattle Times

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Casey Schmitt and Heliot Ramos Trade Profiles]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/casey-schmitt-and-heliot-ramos-tradehttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/casey-schmitt-and-heliot-ramos-tradeTue, 21 Jul 2026 17:35:00 GMT
San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos, right, celebrates with Casey Schmitt,...
AP/Godofredo A. Vásquez

Subscribe now

Sea Level is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Mailbag Monday: Dan Wilson, Emerson's struggles, trades ]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/mailbag-monday-dan-wilson-emersonshttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/mailbag-monday-dan-wilson-emersonsMon, 20 Jul 2026 20:03:29 GMT
Seattle Mariners’ Colt Emerson lines out in his first major...
AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

]]><![CDATA[How the Mariners can get back on track in the second half]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/how-the-mariners-can-get-back-onhttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/how-the-mariners-can-get-back-onFri, 17 Jul 2026 22:24:50 GMT]]><![CDATA[2026 Mariners Trade Deadline Guide]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/2026-mariners-trade-deadline-guidehttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/2026-mariners-trade-deadline-guideWed, 15 Jul 2026 15:10:49 GMTWhat are the Mariners needs?

Hitters

Romy Gonzalez

The Mariners are in desperate need of a right handed bat to improve their league worst performance against left handed pitching, and one with the versatility of Gonzalez would be a massive help.

While 2026 has been a wash thus far due to injury, Romy is back in the lineup and looking to build on a 2025 in which he posted a 162 wRC+ against southpaws. He owns a 135 for his career.

Gonzalez can play all the infield positions and even has experience in the outfield. He would be a good fit moving forward. The 29 year old has 2.5 years of club control remaining, so finding a price point for a short side platoon infielder could be tough.

Fit: High

Price: Medium

Willson Contreras

Contreras has been an impact bat at the major league level for a long time. The 34 year old owns a 137 wRC+ against southpaws, while maintaining solid above average production against righties.

He has a club option for 2028, so the Mariners could decide whether or not he would be a good fit to remain after next season. The return may be sizable, likely similar to a Randy Arozarena type package. The real question is, would the Mariners be interested in adding his personality to the clubhouse? Contreras has been a part of several fights and altercations this year, albeit not too dissimilar from Josh Naylor.

Contreras would immediately become their full time DH or could split some time with Naylor and immediately slot in to the middle of Seattle’s order.

(Contreras has since said that he will not waive his no trade clause and I believe him)

Fit: High

Price: High

Taylor Ward

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 03: Taylor Ward #3 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a one-run double in the seventh inning during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Taylor Ward would be amongst the most impactful right handed bats Seattle could acquire this deadline. Ward could slide in and replace the role of Refsnyder or Robles, plus mixing in at DH and in left field to give Randy a DH day or day off.

Ward has been a personal favorite of mine for a long time, and got off to a red hot start in Baltimore this year. I could see him being the type of player that Seattle trades for, and then ultimately re signs in the offseason in the Josh Naylor mold to replace Randy Arozarena.

Ward has only outfield capabilities, and has seen his slugging fall off a cliff this season. Ward has just 5 homers and a .351 SLG, which does make me a bit weary. He has crushed lefties to the tune of a 142 wRC+, and has found some SLG in the month of July. He would be an excellent fit for the Mariners relative to what else is expected to be available on the market.

Fit: High

Price: Medium/Low

Seiya Suzuki

Seiya Suzuki is a really interesting fit for the Mariners at the deadline. The Cubs are firmly back in contention, but absolutely don’t have the starting pitching to make any sort of real run at this point. They have had interest in Luis Castillo in the past, and a swap of these two players could make some sense.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Oliver Boctor joins to talk 2026 Mariners draft class!]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/oliver-boctor-joins-to-talk-2026https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/oliver-boctor-joins-to-talk-2026Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:35:08 GMT
Mississippi State's Ace Reese (3) bats against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
USA Today via Reuters
]]><![CDATA[Mailbag Monday: Donovan's return, Castillo trade return, and trading Randy?]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/mailbag-monday-donovans-return-castillohttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/mailbag-monday-donovans-return-castilloMon, 13 Jul 2026 19:11:22 GMT

]]><![CDATA[Seattle Mariners Draft Preview]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/seattle-mariners-draft-previewhttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/seattle-mariners-draft-previewThu, 09 Jul 2026 12:01:49 GMT
Logan Hughes swings a bat during a game at Rip Griffin Park

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Buyer for buyer deals, Woo on the road]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/buyer-for-buyer-deals-woo-on-thehttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/buyer-for-buyer-deals-woo-on-theTue, 07 Jul 2026 14:40:03 GMT
Pirates pummel Mariners' Bryan Woo as road struggles resurface | The Seattle Times

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Mailbag Monday: Montes and Arroyo promoted, best trade chips, deadline aggression]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/mailbag-monday-montes-and-arroyohttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/mailbag-monday-montes-and-arroyoMon, 06 Jul 2026 20:28:58 GMT
Travs Blast 4 HRs, 2 by Montes in Thursday Victory | Travelers
Braeden Betts
]]><![CDATA[Ryan Divish joins the show to talk Cal's struggles, Canzone's development, Seattle's deadline approach, and more! ]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/ryan-divish-joins-the-show-to-talkhttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/ryan-divish-joins-the-show-to-talkWed, 01 Jul 2026 16:22:34 GMT
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Carmen Mandatto/Getty Images

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Cole Young success, Dom Canzone's journey, and George's gem]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/cole-young-success-dom-canzones-journeyhttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/cole-young-success-dom-canzones-journeyTue, 30 Jun 2026 16:30:13 GMT
Cole Young takes a moment to watch his two-run home run in the sixth inning, his second homer of the game. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
Dean Rutz/Seattle Times

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Mailbag Monday: Three questions I would want to ask the Mariners right now]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/mailbag-monday-three-questions-ihttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/mailbag-monday-three-questions-iMon, 29 Jun 2026 20:13:12 GMT
President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto fields questions during the post season press conference Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. (Kevin Clark / The Seattle Times)
Kevin Clark/Seattle Times
]]><![CDATA[Three moves the Mariners should make to shake up the roster]]>https://www.sealevelbr.com/p/three-moves-the-mariners-should-makehttps://www.sealevelbr.com/p/three-moves-the-mariners-should-makeFri, 26 Jun 2026 14:52:47 GMT
Mariners glad to have Carlos Santana even with Ty France back in lineup | The Seattle Times
Dean Rutz/Seattle Times

]]>