Mariners should trade for switch-throwing outfielder with .787 OPS

1 day ago 3

The Seattle Mariners need an upgrade to their lineup.

They also have a surplus of pitchers and could trade an arm to get a bat.

The AL West-rival Athletics could be the ideal match thanks to the presence of Carlos Cortes.

The A's have too many outfielders, and Cortes has surprised with his hitting prowess this season. It'd be logical for them to cash in, and he could help Seattle.

"It may seem odd to suggest that the Athletics could deal away a controllable outfielder, but with Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler, Denzel Clarke, Henry Bolte and Colby Thomas on the roster, there is an opportunity to trade someone such as the 29-year-old Cortes to bring back some much-needed pitching depth," MLB.com's Mark Feinsand wrote in a new article on Friday. "Cortes has seven home runs, 25 RBIs and a .787 OPS in 78 games this season, ranking in the top 11 percent of the league in strikeout rate."

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That's a solid summary of Cortes as a player, a guy who could comfortably slot into the Mariners' lineup as needed.

It leaves out one thing, though: Cortes is a switch-thrower.

That's right -- he can throw left-handed or right-handed.

He plays the outfield left-handed, but growing up he learned how to throw righty, too, so that he can conceptually be used all around the infield, as well.

The A's have made very little use of that, and it wouldn't be the main Cortes selling point before the trade deadline. But it's a nice little bonus to have in the back pocket just in case it's needed with some late-game maneuvering.

Maybe the A's and Mariners aren't a perfect match, particularly since they share a division, but there's a case to be made for a deal like this one.