Rival GMs Reportedly Expect Seattle Mariners to Trade Top Prospect at Trade Deadline

Ford, 22, has spent the entire season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers and just represented the Mariners at the Futures Game on Saturday. The No. 58 prospect in the game (per MLB Pipeline), he's hitting .292 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs. He's a good runner as well, as evidenced by his 35 steals at Double-A last year, but he only has four steals this year.

While the Mariners would undoubtedly love to hold onto Ford, who was drafted in the first round in 2021, they don't really have a place for him to play. With Cal Raleigh on a historic offensive pace and locked in for the next several years, Ford doesn't have an easy path to catching. Mitch Garver's deal runs out at the end of this season and the team will need a backup catcher, but Ford's greatest asset to the M's might be what he can bring back in a trade instead.

Seattle enters play on Sunday at 50-45 and in possession of the third and final wild card spot in the American League. They have been linked to help at first base, as well as third base, at the deadline.