The Seattle Mariners are about to shock all of Major League Baseball with a monstrous trade, according to one insider.
Seattle entered Monday still entrenched in a fierce division battle with the Houston Astros; both teams were tied atop the American League West.
The Mariners squandered a ten-game lead over the Astros over the past couple of months, but they hope that the addition of Randy Arozarena will help them once again gain some separation from Houston in August.
According to some, Seattle is far from done making deadline moves.
Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com predicted on Monday that the Mariners will land Toronto Blue Jays four-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ahead of Tuesday night's trade deadline.
"Seattle president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has to be feeling the heat after this team, with an elite rotation, squandered a 10-game division lead," Castrovince said. "Arozarena is aboard, but -- with Julio Rodríguez banged up and underperforming and multiple 33-year-olds named Mitch (Garver and Haniger) batting around .200 -- the Mariners STILL sorely need offense."
"They made the Arozarena deal without dealing catching prospect Harry Ford or any of their coveted middle-infield prospects (Cole Young, Colt Emerson and Felnin Celesten). They can swing a Guerrero deal. ... The Blue Jays have been adamant publicly about not dealing Guerrero and signaling a rebuild, but ... (it is a) good time for them to come to their senses and get value back for Vladdy Jr."
Acquiring Guerrero Jr. would be a colossal victory for Dipoto and one that would alter the power structure of the AL playoff picture.
More MLB: Astros surprise blockbuster trade would land Blue Jays four-time All-Star
