MLB Trade Rumors: Mariners Nearly Landed a 3rd Big Star at Trade Deadline

Josh Naylor & Eugenio Suarez were two pick trade deadline pickups for the Mariners, but they almost had another All-Star

The Seattle Mariners were the big winners of the Trade Deadline in the American League, picking up two sorely-needed bats for their regular lineup, acquiring slugger Eugenio Suarez for third base, and Josh Naylor for first. The team has gone 10-4 since then (going into Sunday's action), and have picked up four games in the loss column on the Houston Astros, to move just one game back of first place in the AL West.

But we're getting word that the M's very nearly picked up the top bullpen piece available on the trade market as well, per insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

The Mariners believed they were on the verge of acquiring Jhoan Duran until the Phillies swooped in and upped their offer to Minnesota.

Seattle already has one of the top starting rotations in the game, and one of the game's best closers in Andres Munoz. Imagine if they could have paired him—with his 29 saves and ridiculous 1.31 ERA—with Duran and his 1.86 ERA.

But it was, indeed, the Phillies that stepped up and claimed Duran, as they were in much more dire need of a closer. Their increased offer was a big one, as they sent the Twins two of their top six prospects, in 18-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait (No. 4 in the Phillies' system) and 6'5" right-hander Mick Abel (#6). It's not known what Seattle's offer was, but they already traded four of their top 20 prospects to get Suarez and Naylor.

Duran has certainly not disappointed for Philly, picking up five saves in five opportunities, without allowing an earned run yet in six appearances, along with a 0.43 WHIP. (Luckily, he avoided serious injury when he was struck this weekend by a liner back to the mound.)

As for the Mariners, Munoz continues to lock it down in the bullpen, as he, too, has five saves this month.