Well, the answer is quite simple but is often overlooked by Mariners fans… or any fan base for that matter. We typically think of trades as being a big leaguer for a minor leaguer or a big leaguer for a big leaguer. But trades can also include an MLB piece and a prospect for just a prospect. Basically, teams can add a “sweetener” to their offer to land a player they want or to off-load a big contract.
But for a team like the Mariners who are rebuilding and in the business of hoarding prospects more so than “sweetening” deals, parting ways with a promising talent can be tough.