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This upcoming trade deadline is going to be a major inflection point for the Mariners. The front office seems steadfast in their commitment to the current roster and they'll still be making some moves, but hardly any that will revolutionize the roster. There are some rumors about a potential blockbuster deal but for Seattle, the biggest tailwind may instead be the removal of a persistent thorn in their side.
With a record of 43-58 and just 0.9% chance of making the postseason according to FanGraphs, the Athletics are positioning themselves as clear sellers. Their hottest trade asset is undoubtedly Shea Langeliers, who has been one of the best catchers in baseball this year. Across 404 plate appearances, he has a 120 OPS+ with 22 home runs. He's made big defensive strides this year, grading out as above average for the first time in his career.
The Athletics could decide to trade away Shea Langeliers, opening up the AL West even more
But the Mariners likely aren't interested in him as a trade piece. They've already committed to Cal Raleigh for the long haul and the organization wouldn't sacrifice meaningful prospects for a backup catcher. Instead, they should be more interested in simply getting him out of the division. Langeliers has posted a .773 OPS against the Mariners over his career and has hit more home runs (13) against them than against any other team.
Unfortunately, not everyone agrees that he's likely to be moved. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic still believes that the Athletics will be keeping him around, as he's an integral part of the lineup and is complementary to the organization's core of young players under club control like Lawrence Butler, Jacob Wilson, and Tyler Soderstrom.
Jeff Passan of ESPN feels similarly, giving him just a 10% chance of being traded. There's no shortage of interested suitors including the Yankees, Rays, and Red Sox and the Athletics are always open-minded about entertaining unexpected trades. However, this might be a rare case of one of their players truly being off limits, at least for the time being.
Aside from the specifics of the Athletics' attitude, mid-season trades to acquire starting catchers are less common in general. Acquiring other position players is more straightforward but catchers present their own nuances because of the defensive expectations. Aside from limiting stolen bases, blocking wild pitches, and stealing strikes, catchers are expected to work closely with the pitching staff to call games. Arriving at the start of August gives the catcher little time to learn the ins and outs of his new teammates and can limit the acquired upside.
Regardless of whether he stays or goes, Seattle has plenty of other things to worry about at this year's trade deadline. Even if he sticks around, the Athletics won't be a direct obstacle on the Mariners' road to the postseason. However, he could end up being just one of the thousand cuts that sink Seattle's season.
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This article was originally published on sodomojo.com as Athletics' reported stance on trading Shea Langeliers is music to Mariners' ears.
