Following the acquisition of Josh Naylor to bolster the right side of their infield, the Seattle Mariners are now focusing on the Minnesota Twins for potential upgrades at third base and in the bullpen.
The Mariners have renewed their interest in versatile infielder Willi Castro, a player they also targeted during the offseason. Castro, 28, is in his final year of team control on a $6.4 million salary. This season, the switch-hitter is batting .252/.343/.418 with 10 home runs, 15 doubles, and nine stolen bases. His offensive production would represent a significant upgrade for Seattle at third base, where rookie Ben Williamson has provided strong defense but a modest .256/.293/.315 batting line. The club’s initial plan for Jorge Polanco to play third has been shelved, as he has been limited to designated hitter duties while recovering from knee surgery and a separate oblique issue.
In addition to shoring up the infield, Seattle is seeking high-leverage relief pitching. Minnesota’s hard-throwing right-handers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax are prominent targets. Both are under team control through 2027. Duran, the Twins’ closer, is renowned for a fastball that averages over 100 mph and owns a career 2.47 ERA.
While less known, Jax presents an arguably more compelling trade case. Despite a 3.91 ERA inflated by poor luck on balls in play, his advanced metrics, including a 2.00 FIP and a 1.94 SIERA, rank him among the league’s elite relievers. His 36.9% strikeout rate and 19.8% swinging-strike rate are both among the best in MLB.
However, the cost for these arms is steep. Reports indicate the Twins are seeking multiple top-100 prospects for either Duran or Jax alone, making a package deal that also includes Castro highly improbable.
If a deal for a premier reliever proves too costly, the Mariners could pivot to more attainable targets in the Minnesota bullpen. Left-hander Danny Coulombe, a pending free agent, has posted a 1.16 ERA with a 25.4% strikeout rate this season. Another option is right-hander Brock Stewart, who is controlled through 2027. Since 2023, Stewart has a 2.33 ERA and a 31.7% strikeout rate, though he has also dealt with significant injuries.
With one of baseball’s top-ranked farm systems, featuring eight prospects in Baseball America’s top 100, the Mariners possess the assets to acquire nearly any player. As the Twins are aiming to retool for contention in 2026 rather than enter a full rebuild, they are expected to prioritize prospects who are close to being major-league-ready in any potential trade.
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