Anyway, he's the most valuable trade chip, his ceiling might be somewhat limited and this team needs pitching desperately and I'm simply making a devil's advocate argument that maybe he isn't untouchable. Hopefully that makes more sense.
Only one no.1 prospect has been traded in the last 30 years, which is why I'm a little skeptical about it happening here. For a team that so rarely gets to pick anywhere near the top of the draft, and isn't doing a full see-you-in-five-years-maybe teardown, it seems even less likely.
I agree it's unlikely, but I'm not sure what the second part has to do with anything - it doesn't mean a teardown. Just as a hypothetical because they've been mentioned as a possible trade partner, the Mariners need offense and have a surplus of pitching. Logan Gilbert is under control through 2028. He is a 70 value on the trade simulator thing and they'd want value in return.
If it were me I would try and trade someone else for Dylan Cease and Lance Lynn and unload impending FA for minor league arms.
With that said, Jordan Walker is pretty close to it. Even in a scenario where he ends up being Richie Sexson, very good to excellent offensive player for a number of years, but doesn't max out in value due to defensive limitations, that's still an extremely valuable asset. Especially when the team isn't exactly producing elite level offensive players that are young. Eventually Goldy and Arenado will age out. You still need someone to be the anchor of the offense. Trading him for a young starter, even if they end up great, is counter productive imo. You're taking out the centerpiece of your future offense for the centerpiece of a pitching staff. It seems more like a lateral move.
I think the way you interpret the Walker situation is that you look around you see 3 players with substantial trade value whose long term home probably needs to be 1B/DH: Walker, Goldschmidt, and Gorman. Goldschmidt is in a bit of his own category given his age and only being under contract for 18 months, but even setting him aside that sets up to pick between Walker and Gorman if you're looking to make a really decisive move now. I have some skepticism this is the type of trade that happens in July compared to December, and it's not a bottleneck you *have* to resolve(the DH exists, one or both may not break through), but if you're looking around and saying 'we aren't going anywhere without some really good pitchers' then that's the type of move you probably need to entertain given the team's likely (lack of) financial flexibility.
At this point, if Mo is looking foe something to impact this year, he's looking in the wrong place. His negotiating strength will come as a seller, not a buyer.
Start by getting a catcher who doesn’t make the team worse. Last year Molina and Knizner hit like Aaron Miles with a blindfold. Team was 10th in ERA and won 90-plus games.
I too am in the "trade Goldy" camp. It makes the most sense to turn the page to the next window of contention.
And shop Flaherty. And Montgomery. See if any of the RP's can bring back some lottery chips. You're not going to ink any of these guys in for the next 2+ years. Let's get some talent into the system.
Unless someone blows you away with their top tier prospects it isn't worth trading Goldschmidt for a lottery ticket imo. He's a free agent after 2024; he isn't blocking anyone that is ready to take his job. Gorman/Walker can get plenty of ABs with the DH available. If one or both of them were Aaron Judge and you couldn't get their bats in the lineup; that is when you have to make that kind of move.
I would focus first on Montgomery; if he won't discuss extension then he should go. Flaherty won't bring much but he should probably go too unless they think they are going to sign him to a cheap 1 year deal (which would be a very Mo thing to do actually). Get rid of some of the AAAA filler that hasn't been able to translate Memphis success into MLB success and see what you have behind them. This is a year to just try and clean up the roster and then in the offseason make the big splashes if there are any available.
Wait until we get to the point in the season where things like a starter suddenly getting a day off will spur all sorts of speculation. Should ramp up post ASB.
