Mariners Make Big Bullpen Trade Right Before Red Sox Series

The MLB Trade Deadline is on Tuesday, which means there’ll be a ton of action around the league over the next 24 hours. The Red Sox are in a very intriguing position as a potential buyer or seller, and fans are eager to see what Boston gets up to by 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 1.

Though there’s plenty of rumors around the Sox right now, it turns out their upcoming opponent has made a big move prior to the deadline.

The Mariners have agreed to a trade with the Diamondbacks, sending closer Paul Sewald to Arizona for a pair of big leaguers (Josh Rojas and Dominic Canzone) and minor league infielder Ryan Bliss.

This is a major shakeup to Seattle’s bullpen that will certainly impact the series against Boston. Sewell was in the midst of a career year for the Mariners, already topping his previous best with 21 saves in 2023. The 33-year-old also owns a 2.93 ERA on the season and has racked up 60 strikeouts over 43.0 innings.

Red Sox hitters faced Sewald once during the 2023 campaign, as the veteran come on in relief during the May 16 matchup between these two teams. Boston got the better of him, recording two hits and a run scored, which led to the righty being yanked before the inning was over.

Sewald’s departure now thrusts the inexperienced Andres Munoz into the closer role. He’s recorded just seven combined saves since making his debut in 2019 and never handled closing duties full-time.

Following the disruption of their bullpen, the middling Mariners are even more vulnerable on Monday, giving the Red Sox a great chance to begin this series with a win. Seattle’s uncertainty in the bullpen is one factor that could help Boston provide some value as an underdog bet.