The Seattle Mariners had a bustling trade deadline in 2024, completing six trades that aimed to bolster their roster for a postseason run. Although the team ultimately fell short of the playoffs, the long-term impacts of these trades are worth analyzing.
Starting with their most significant move on July 26, the Mariners traded Brody Hopkins, Aidan Smith, and Ty Cummings to the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Randy Arozarena. Arozarena brought immediate results, posting a solid 118 OPS+ over 54 games in his first season with Seattle and even bettered that in 2025 with a notable 136 OPS+. As an All-Star, he contributed a valuable 3.8 bWAR, suggesting he could be a foundational piece for their future success.
In contrast, the Rays acquired three prospects, including former top-100 prospect Aidan Smith, who is now considered the No. 5 prospect in their system. Brody Hopkins is climbing ranks, currently positioned as the No. 3 prospect with a 3.28 ERA in Double-A. Despite these positive indicators, it appears the Mariners emerged as the clear winners of this trade, benefiting greatly from Arozarena’s offensive capabilities.
On the same day, the Mariners traded reliever Ryne Stanek to the New York Mets for outfielder Rhylan Thomas. While Stanek struggled significantly during his time with the Mets, the Mariners were able to offload a player with negative value and ended up with a young outfielder who had a brief stint with the major league team. This trade achieved the Mariners’ goal of clearing salary and gaining a potential future player.
Another significant trade on July 29 saw the Mariners send RJ Schreck to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for veteran infielder Justin Turner. This deal proved beneficial for Seattle, as trading a low-ranked prospect for an established player who contributed effectively down the stretch was a no-brainer. Turner had a solid OPS+ of 128 and was worth 1.2 bWAR in his 48 games with the Mariners, demonstrating his value in the lineup.
Later that day, the Mariners traded Ty France to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Andruw Salcedo. This move was largely viewed as a salary dump, and France’s performance declined after the trade, reinforcing the Mariners’ savvy decision to let him go. Salcedo is still working his way up from rookie ball, but his likelihood of impacting the major leagues seems minimal.
The Mariners also traded Jonatan Clase and Jacob Sharp to the Blue Jays for reliever Yimi García. Unfortunately, this deal was disappointing for Seattle, as García struggled with a 6.00 ERA in just 10 appearances. Meanwhile, Clase has had a modest performance, further diminishing the significance of this trade with a grade of D.
Finally, the Mariners traded Will Schomberg to the Miami Marlins for relief pitcher JT Chargois. In this exchange, the Mariners made a wise decision to acquire Chargois, who contributed effectively with a 2.75 ERA across 21 appearances, making this another successful deal in the Mariners’ trade lineup.
Overall, this trade deadline highlights the Mariners’ strategic thinking and ability to strengthen their roster, laying the groundwork for future success despite their missed postseason opportunity in 2024. Arozarena’s continued development and the potential growth of acquired prospects could pay off in the coming years, offering hope and optimism for the franchise’s future.