Mariners Linked To Trades For Two Big-Name Pitchers
Jim Bowden of The Athletic identified Boston's Aroldis Chapman and New York's Luke Weaver as two relievers Seattle should pursue, describing both as nearly ideal fits for what the Mariners need.
ESPN previously named Seattle as the top potential trade fit for Chapman.
The Closer Question
The issue is Andres Munoz.
The two-time All-Star has been Seattle's primary closer, recording 14 saves and 44 strikeouts in 28.1 innings, but he has walked 13 batters and carries a 5.08 ERA along with a minus-0.4 WAR figure that is troubling for a team with the best starting pitching in the American League.
Chapman would be a dramatic upgrade.
The 38-year-old left-hander has been one of the best closers in baseball this season, recording a 2.08 ERA and 14 saves across 23 appearances.
"Untouched in a month-and-a-half!"
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 19, 2026
Luke Weaver strikes out the side for the second straight outing and has now tallied 18 straight appearances (20 innings) without allowing a run! pic.twitter.com/zyArWAsMvU
Bowden noted that if Munoz does not turn things around soon, Seattle should make a run at a proven closer like Chapman.
Because Munoz is a righty and Chapman a lefty, the two could be deployed interchangeably depending on matchups, giving manager Dan Wilson genuine flexibility in the late innings.
Per ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan, Chapman carries a 90 percent chance of being traded before the deadline, with the Mariners among a long list of suitors that also includes the White Sox, Dodgers, Phillies, Cubs, Blue Jays, Rays, Guardians, Pirates, and Diamondbacks.
The Weaver Fit
Weaver is the other name Bowden tied to Seattle.
The right-hander signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Mets in 2025 and has been excellent in 2026, posting a 26.4 percent strikeout rate, a 6.4 percent walk rate, and a 2.74 FIP.
His .222 wOBA ranks in the top two percent of pitchers in the league, and his 2.93 xERA is in the top 10 percent.
As a high-leverage arm with peak trade value, Weaver is exactly the kind of reliever the Mets could sell to bolster their farm system if they fall out of contention.
The Red Sox have fielded calls on relief pitchers Aroldis Chapman, Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock, per @jcmccaffrey
— SleeperMLB (@SleeperMLB) June 6, 2026
The team has no interest in trading anyone at the moment pic.twitter.com/LJ2sqBaiii
A Seattle bullpen that adds both Chapman and Weaver alongside Munoz would suddenly become one of the deepest and most dangerous relief units in the American League, with multiple left-handed options for a potential postseason run after the Mariners came within one win of the World Series a year ago.
The Mariners have the pitching to win now. Bowden's argument is that the bullpen is the one place they cannot afford to leave to chance.
