Why Mariners' most impactful addition for MLB roster might not be a trade

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Why Mariners' most impactful addition for MLB roster might not be a trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Seattle Mariners, like every other team in Major League Baseball, is approaching the MLB trade deadline with a plan in mind, hoping to be buyers. Seattle can buy this season, especially with a right-handed hitter and more bullpen help on their wish-list.

But trading for players won't be simple, and it might end up costing the Mariners a lot of money and prospects to add premier talent to help them on a postseason run.

However, as Jim Bowden of The Athletic highlighted, the Mariners' most impactful addition this summer might not be in a trade. Instead, it could come with the promotion of pitching prospects Ryan Sloan and Kade Anderson.

Sloan and Anderson promotions would be an easier upgrade than a trade for Mariners​

"They also have two elite pitching prospects in southpaw Kade Anderson and right-hander Ryan Sloan," Bowden writes, "both of whom could help them down the stretch if needed. Promoting prospects can have more impact than trades."

Seattle has the resources to make a trade by the August 3 trade deadline to improve the pitching staff and/or the lineup. They have needs in the bullpen and the outfield, so a trade wouldn't be a surprise at all.

But their biggest addition might not be a trade, but rather the promotion of Anderson or Sloan. Colt Emerson is already up in the Majors. Why not add the other two top prospects to have as good a pitching staff as possible?

This season, Anderson has a 1.13 ERA in 55.2 innings at Double-A as a 21-year-old, and he's in serious consideration to get the MLB call-up this season with how much he's dominated.

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Sloan is only 20 years old and has two seasons under his belt, and has been a bit worse. He has a 4.44 ERA this season in 46.2 innings at Double-A, but he could also be an MLB call-up later this year.

They have a stacked rotation already at the MLB level, with Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller, Emerson Hancock, and Luis Castillo rounding out a strong six-man rotation.

But the Mariners could use more bullpen help, and adding Anderson and/or Sloan could be a much more impactful addition than a veteran reliever in the trade market this summer.

It's a bold idea from Bowden, but it does make sense. The Mariners' situation is very unique, as they could realistically have eight good starting pitchers that make this a ridiculously deep pitching staff come October.

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