Seattle, WA
Seattle Mariners Trade Targets: Rays who could address M's needs
As the first-place Seattle Mariners open a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday at Tropicana Field, they might get an up-close look at some potential trade targets.
Morosi: The familiar Mariners trade partner to keep an eye on
The Rays have struggled to a 38-40 record this season, which has them 13 games back in the American League East and four games out of the AL’s third and final wild card spot. According to FanGraphs, their playoff odds are just 16.8%. That puts them in position to be a potential seller at the trade deadline.
During an appearance on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Monday, 10 Tampa Bay sports director Evan Closky discussed the Rays’ status as a potential seller and mentioned some possible players the Mariners could target to bolster their roster.
“The probability of (the Rays) making the playoffs is still less than 18 percent, so putting that in the grand scheme of things, the Rays are a very smart front office and they understand that this is a seller’s market this season,” Closky said. “So I think it would behoove them to sell if the right deal presents itself. And considering that a lot of teams are going to be in the hunt, they might be able to get some guys for an overpriced amount and really build themselves for the next few seasons. I know the Rays would love a guy like (highly rated Mariners prospect) Harry Ford, because they need a catcher so badly.”
Potential Rays hitters to target
Closky mentioned 25-year-old third baseman Isaac Paredes as a great match for Seattle. Paredes, who is under club control through 2027, hit 31 home runs last season and is batting .280/.365/.459 with 11 homers and an .824 OPS in 73 games this season. He also has just a 16.6% strikeout rate, which ranks 19th out of 71 qualified hitters in the AL, according to FanGraphs. That could be of particular interest for the Mariners, who have an MLB-worst 27.3% strikeout rate.
“If the Mariners can figure out a way to get Isaac Paredes, I do think that that is a perfect guy for them to grab, because he’s somebody who doesn’t strike out often, makes contact, has power,” Closky said. “He does everything that this team lacks a little bit with the bats, considering half of the Seattle Mariners lineup is the three true outcomes of home run, walk, strikeout.”
Another possible target is 32-year-old first baseman Yandy Díaz, who hit a career-high .330 with 22 homers during an All-Star season last year. This season, he’s .271/.331/.384 with six homers and a .715 OPS in 77 games. He has an even lower strikeout rate than Paredes, ranking sixth among AL qualifying hitters at just 13.8%. Díaz is in the second season of a three-year, $24 million deal that includes a club option for 2026.
“I don’t think anybody’s necessarily like off the table,” Closky said. “Now, Yandy Diaz is an amazing player, someone who I’m sure they’re gonna want the next couple of seasons. He’s cheap in the grand scheme of things, but for a very revenue-focused team like the Tampa Bay Rays, that’s very important. … So (I’m) not saying that Yandy’s off the table, but you might have to overpay for him.”
Potential Rays relievers to target
The Mariners could also look to add an arm or two to their bullpen, which has been hampered by injuries this season. Closky said the two relievers the Rays would be most likely to trade are 33-year-old right-hander Shawn Armstrong and 31-year-old right-hander Phil Maton.
Armstrong is a 10-year MLB veteran who spent parts of the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Seattle. He has a 3.53 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 35 2/3 innings this season, with 39 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Maton, who spent the past three seasons with the Houston Astros, is an eight-year MLB veteran who signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay in February. He had a strong 2023 season in Houston, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 74 strikeouts and 25 walks in 66 innings. However, he has struggled to a 5.28 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 29 innings with the Rays this season.
“The two (relievers) that I think are probably gonna go by the deadline are Shawn Armstrong and Phil Maton, so if the Mariners wanted to work out a bigger deal with the Rays, I would imagine maybe those pieces get kicked in along with it,” Closky said. “They are some pieces in the bullpen who you throw into a bigger deal and sweeten the pot a little bit.”
Listen to the full conversation with 10 Tampa Bay sports director Evan Closky at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Mariners Roster Moves: Jorge Polanco returns, rookie optioned
• Where’s Julio’s power? Insiders weigh in on Mariners star’s ‘mystifying’ first half
• Mariners Breakdown: Where things stand after 2nd straight series loss
• Mariners Trade Targets: Three Marlins to keep an eye on
• Gregory Santos takes big step toward Seattle Mariners debut
Kansas football coach Lance Leipold speaks at Jayhawks’ pro day event
Check out some of what Kansas football coach Lance Leipold had to say recently at the Jayhawks’ 2026 pro day event in Lawrence.
LAWRENCE — Emmanuel Henderson Jr. went into the 2026 NFL Draft in April thinking that third day, when the fourth-through-seventh rounds played out, would be when he’d be taken.
Henderson, a wide receiver in college for Kansas football this past season, wasn’t sure which team would pick him. He’d talked with the Seattle Seahawks organization during the pre-draft process sure, but there was nothing guaranteed. Overall, he was just ready for his first professional opportunity.
Seattle, though, did end up being the team that drafted him in the sixth round. That the Seahawks are coming off of a Super Bowl title certainly stands out to him, as does the fact he’ll be able to reunite with some former teammates from Alabama — where he was, prior to transferring to KU for the 2025 season. And he’s both happy to have ended up in Seattle, and eager to show what he’d told NFL teams about his ability during the pre-draft process.
“You could see from my film, I can take the top off any defense you put me against,” Henderson said recently. “Not only that, that I’m a receiver that loves to play special teams. So, that’s one of the great abilities I got to showcase, too.”
Henderson became an All-Big 12 Conference first team honoree as a returner this past season, in addition to making the third team as a wide receiver. He added an honorable mention recognition for offensive newcomer of the year. He came to Kansas because it gave him a chance to showcase his talents, because there was playing time up for grabs, and he took advantage of his opportunity.
Henderson, who highlighted his kickoff return for a touchdown against West Virginia as one fond memory, sees his special teams experience as something that can give him an advantage as he tries to make Seattle’s roster. That he’s played at different spots there, he feels, makes him a more versatile athlete. As the offseason unfolds, he just wants to show his new coaches his personality as he puts in more work, and develop chemistry with his new teammates.
KU coach Lance Leipold shared a post on social media following Henderson’s selection by Seattle, expressing his support. Henderson’s also heard from so many friends and family members in the days since. Now, it’s just about making sure that versatility translates to the next level.
“I’m looking forward to just moving around, inside, outside receiver, even part of the backfield if I get the chance to,” Henderson said. “But anywhere they’ll put me I’d love to go.”
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
The Seattle Mariners have a new pitcher, and it’s one they’re quite familiar with.
Cal Raleigh has soreness in side, out of Mariners’ lineup again
Longtime former Los Angeles Angels left-hander José Suarez was claimed by the Mariners on Sunday off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. To make room on the 40-man roster, Seattle designated Triple-A outfielder Rhylan Thomas for assignment.
The Mariners (16-18 entering Sunday) and the MLB-leading Braves (24-10) are set to begin a three-game series at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park on Monday night.
The 28-year-old Suarez is in his eighth MLB season, the first six of which were with the Angels. Because of his long tenure playing for a Mariners AL West rival, Suarez has played against the Mariners (14 games, 10 starts, 59 1/3 innings) more than any other MLB team.
Braves star Acuña to 10-day IL, out for series vs. Mariners
Suarez had a 6.61 ERA in eight games (one start) and 16 1/3 innings for the Braves this season. He first joined the Braves last year.
The Braves designated Suarez for assignment on Friday.
The best seasons of Suarez’s career were in 2021 and 2022 with the Angels, both years in which he went 8-8 with an ERA below 4.00 and WHIP under 1.25.
The Mariners had to scramble to fill a spot in the bullpen this week when right-hander Matt Brash went on the injured list with right lat inflammation. They initially called up left-hander Josh Simpson from Triple-A Tacoma just before their game against Kansas City on Friday night, then replaced Simpson by calling up Nick Davila from Double-A Arkansas on Saturday.
Thomas, 26, made his MLB debut last season, appearing in three games for the Mariners. This year in Triple-A, he’s has a .260/.313/.328 slash line for a .641 OPS with two home runs in 31 games. Thomas was an 11th-round MLB Draft pick in 2022 out of USC by the New York Mets.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Mariners prospect Montes showcases power with three-HR game
• Mariners to honor Randy Johnson with statue in 2027
• A factor that can help Cole Young earn All-Star nod
• Mariners promote pitcher from Double-A to majors
• Seattle Mariners Injury Update: Latest on Miller, Robles, more
Seattle Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh is day-to-day with “general soreness” after being pulled from the lineup before Saturday’s game, manager Dan Wilson told reporters after a 3-2 loss in 10 innings against the Kansas City Royals.
Wilson said Raleigh underwent imaging, though he did not specify what on, and the team will assess their star catcher’s status Sunday.
“We’re trying to be as cautious as possible,” Wilson said.
Raleigh was originally slated to start at catcher and bat second in the middle game of the three-game series, but he was scratched from the lineup about 90 minutes before first pitch.
Mitch Garver got the start in place of Raleigh and went 1 for 4 at the plate and struck out three times, including to lead off the 10th inning.
Saturday’s game was the first Raleigh has missed this season. He had started 32 of the previous 33, including 25 at catcher, and came in as a pinch-hitter in the only game he didn’t start.
Raleigh is batting .186 with a .652 OPS, seven homers and four doubles this season. He has hit five home runs in his past 10 games.
Raleigh finished as the American League MVP runner-up during a record-setting campaign in 2025. He led baseball with 60 home runs, setting single-season MLB records for most home runs by a catcher and switch-hitter, as well as the Mariners’ single-season homer mark. Raleigh also drove in an AL-best 125 RBIs while hitting .247 with a .948 OPS.
The Mariners added a third catcher to their 26-man roster shortly after Raleigh was scratched from the lineup. Jhonny Pereda was called up from Triple-A Tacoma and infielder Will Wilson was placed on the 10-day injured list with fractured left thumb.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Seattle Mariners to honor Randy Johnson with statue in 2027
• Mariners promote pitcher from Double-A to majors
• A factor that can help Cole Young earn All-Star nod
• Mariners Injury Update: Latest on Miller, Robles and more
• Seattle Mariners place Matt Brash on IL, recall lefty reliever
-
South-Carolina1 second ago
Former South Carolina wing, Lexington native, lands at new program via transfer portal
-
South Dakota6 minutes agoThousands expected for Avera Race Against Cancer in South Dakota
-
Tennessee12 minutes agoStudent resource officers confiscate handguns, alcohol, and marijuana at Tennessee proms
-
Texas18 minutes ago‘Muslim only’ event at taxpayer-funded Texas waterpark gets major splash back: ‘Should we expect a Christians only day?’
-
Utah24 minutes agoKent Udell secures Democratic nomination for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District – Park Record
-
Vermont30 minutes agoVermont Book Award winners announced
-
Virginia36 minutes agoCelebrate bike month with a wild ride at the Virginia Zoo
-
Washington42 minutes agoYOU’RE INVITED! Exclusive Sneak Peek of the New Burn Building at the Washington County Public Safety Training – Washington County