3 trade calls Dodgers should make the day MLB Lockout ends

2. Seattle Mariners

God help Seattle Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto, but he simply loves to swap assets, even as his team’s on the verge of AL West contention.

When the prospect corps of Julio Rodriguez, Noelvi Marte and George Kirby join Jarred Kelenic, the M’s will level up and can start buying at the deadline like a genuine contender should.

Even on the edge of it, though, Dipoto continues to think ruthlessly, absorbing the totality of a situation rather than being a prisoner of the moment.

Hence last season’s Kendall Graveman trade, denying his team their closer for the 2021 stretch run, angering the entire roster, but … resulting in a near-Wild Card spot anyway, as the Mariners finished strong.

The Mariners could be a good partner for the Dodgers in many respects. Maybe Seattle still thinks their bullpen is fungible, and they want to sell high on a piece like Paul Sewald, Drew Steckenrider, or Erik Swanson? Who do the Dodgers believe in here? They can at least start the conversation.

Or maybe things get stranger. Do the Mariners want to pursue Trevor Story and trade JP Crawford, aiding the Dodgers’ infield depth? Could they be … tempted to … dangle Mitch Haniger, a clubhouse leader and clubber of 39 home runs, but also someone entering his final season in Seattle, unlikely to be extended/around when this team really makes the leap? He could split DH/left field/right field reps in LA and further insure against potential AJ Pollock absences.

It would be wildly unexpected, but it would also follow the Graveman pattern to a T. Don’t rule anything out in the forthcoming frenzy.