Mariners and SF Giants can solve problems and swap salaries at trade deadline

The Seattle Mariners and SF Giants have seemed like potential trade partners for some time now. The Giants need pitching and the Mariners could use a right-handed bat so there’s a chance the two teams could solve each other’s problems ahead of the trade deadline.

Not only could they solve each other’s problems on the field, but they could also swap two contracts that both teams are probably looking to offload.

The Mariners are in a tight American League West race in which it looks like no one really wants to win it. They could use a right-handed bat and an upgrade at third base which is probably why they had scouts taking a look at Casey Schmitt recently, but they may now turn their sights to Matt Chapman.

The veteran is set to return from injury this weekend ahead of the trade deadline. If he looks decent teams may feel comfortable trading for him even though he has had a bit of a down year. He is owed over $100 million after this season which is why the Giants would probably have to pay some of that down to make a deal.

It just so happens the Mariners have a veteran pitcher, Luis Castillo, who they are willing to offload and are reportedly okay with paying down some salary to make that happen. Castillo was once in the Giants organization but is now with Seattle. He is owed roughly $24 million in 2027 while Chapman is owed a little over $25 million.

Giants could get a legit starrter for 2027 in Castillo

Chapman’s deal extends through the 2030 season while Castillo has a vesting option for the 2028 season that is based on how he performs in 2027. The two deals are not completely equal, but maybe the Giants could send Chapman to Seattle for Castillo and then agree to chip in some money each year after 2027. Maybe something like $5 million per year.

That would give the Giants a legitimate starter for 2027 even though his 4.85 ERA on the season suggests he may be on the decline. 

It just depends how desperate the Giants are to get Chapman’s contract off the books. If they aren’t that desperate then the deal may not make sense but if they’re looking to offload him then they can at least get a piece of the rotation for 2027.

The Casey Schmitt injury looms over all of this because if he suffered a major knee injury the Giants may not be comfortable trading Chapman. The whole idea of trading Chapman would be that Schmitt would replace him at third base so if he might be out for a while that may make the Giants choose to hang onto Chapman just in case.

We know San Francisco doesn’t really like to pay for starting pitchers though so a trade like this may be the only way they can get a former All-Star pitcher in the rotation.

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