Seattle Open to Trading Harry Ford

[Chembry]

Per MLBTR, sounds like Seattle is open to trading Harry Ford.  Ford could be the stop gap until Tait arrives.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/mariners-notes-ford-right-field-hancock.html

Should the Twins pursue this and see if we could match up on a trade?  RF for them was a bit of a rotation between Canzone, Raley, and Robles.  I wonder if we could match up on and trade some our OF depth?  Seattle's rotation is all under contract through at least 2027, but they don't really have any upper level SP depth, so that could be an option as well.  Yes/No...what does everyone think?  I would say yes, but obviously Jenkins would be off limits.

[harmony55]

45 minutes ago, Chembry said:

Per MLBTR, sounds like Seattle is open to trading Harry Ford.  Ford could be the stop gap until Tait arrives.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/mariners-notes-ford-right-field-hancock.html

Should the Twins pursue this and see if we could match up on a trade?  RF for them was a bit of a rotation between Canzone, Raley, and Robles.  I wonder if we could match up on and trade some our OF depth?  Seattle's rotation is all under contract through at least 2027, but they don't really have any upper level SP depth, so that could be an option as well.  Yes/No...what does everyone think?  I would say yes, but obviously Jenkins would be off limits.

Does Eduardo Tait have a higher ceiling than Harry Ford? A higher floor?

Seattle has outfield depth as well and the Twins would be hard-pressed to offer a clear upgrade to the Mariners' incumbent right fielders.

[ashbury]

Seattle had subpar offensive production at 3B and 2B this year.  Maybe they'd take a package of Julien and Bride.  🙃

Brooks Lee for Ford, though?  OOTP says that's not enough from us, but that game can be persnickety about certain players sometimes.

[harmony55]

12 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Seattle had subpar offensive production at 3B and 2B this year.  Maybe they'd take a package of Julien and Bride.  🙃

Brooks Lee for Ford, though?  OOTP says that's not enough from us, but that game can be persnickety about certain players sometimes.

That would be five years of 24-year-old Brooks Lee, with 2026 projections of 2.1 WAR and a 96 wRC+ in 139 games, for six years of 22-year-old Harry Ford with 2026 projections of 1.0 WAR and a 98 wRC+ in 70 games.

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/brooks-lee/31595/stats?position=3B/SS

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/harry-ford/29958/stats?position=C

Each plays a premium position but with a wealth of infield prospects Seattle would likely seek a better return.

FWIW this year the Mariners ranked 13th in team WAR at third base and 17th in team WAR at second base (ahead of the Twins in each category).

[mnfireman]

6 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Seattle had subpar offensive production at 3B and 2B this year.  Maybe they'd take a package of Julien and Bride.  🙃

Until they acquired Suarez at the deadline and moved Polanco to 2B late in the season, but they are FA's, as are Naylor and Garver, so they might be a fit, but their ask would probably start with Wallner or Lewis, maybe both, and a young SP.

[Chembry]

10 hours ago, harmony55 said:

Does Eduardo Tait have a higher ceiling than Harry Ford? A higher floor?

That is a tough question to answer.  They are quite different and it could change, particularly with Tait, but I will give it a try.  As I see it right now, Ford has the higher floor, but Tait has a higher ceiling. 

Ford is a potential to be an above average everyday catcher.  Here is a direct quote from the fangraphs scouting report: "He's still not the best receiver and pitch framer, but Ford does enough other stuff at a very high level to be an above-average catcher."  He is unusual in that he is very athletic and an above average runner who stole 35 bases in AA, but isn't going to hit a ton of HRs (~15/yr).  He has shown he can hit at the AAA level, but he is blocked by Raleigh. 

Tait has the potential to be a middle of the order bat.  At 19, he already has above average MLB power.  He has the potential to hit a lot of HRs, but also lacks plate discipline.  There are questions if he can stick as a catcher or eventually move to 1B, which lowers his floor.  He is probably 3 years away from us seeing him in MLB.  He still has quite a bit of work to do.

Since Jeffers is a FA in 2026 and Ford could be available, it may be worthwhile to see if the Twin/Mariners can agree on a package.  It all comes down to what Seattle would want as a package.  If they want Lewis, Jenkins, Culpepper, etc...I would say no.  Seattle doesn't have much higher level SP depth, so that is the place I would start the discussion.

[chpettit19]

There's talk of the M's possibly being willing to move Castillo. If that's the case, they could try to acquire the position player talent they want from that trade while acquiring an arm to replace him in the rotation from MN for Ford. I'd think that's the best matchup these 2 teams have for a trade scenario.

The Twins shouldn't be trading any of their prospects. Trying to guess which ones will succeed and which ones won't is a fool's errand. Prospects are a numbers game. Keep them all while adding Ford to the bunch. Wallner may be of interest to Seattle in the DH spot depending on what they think about Canzone's breakout and Raley's ability to bounce back at age 31. But I'd think Ryan or Lopez replacing Castillo in their rotation is probably the best chance to get Ford.

[Mike Sixel]

Ford isn't a placeholder, but partner. 

I'd try for him for sure. He's young and potentially very good. Ryan for Ford and a prospect or two? Lewis for Ford? I mean, Lewis won't be here when this team is good, most likely. 

[tony&rodney]

Lewis for Ford likely works. Will it or should it happen is another thought.