With less than a month til the trade deadline, let’s run through some of the names that Seattle might consider moving.

Cliff Lee

Lee is the biggest trade chip and perhaps the most likely to be moved.  We’ve already discussed whether it not it might be a good idea for Seattle to hold on to Lee, his trade value, and how a deal might work out with the Mets (1 and 2), Cardinals, Rangers and Twins.  Almost all of the other playoff contenders could make a play for Lee, and I will continue to run down their top trade chips as we march toward the trade deadline.

Jose Lopez

There should be little pressure to trade Lopez given the affordability of his 2011 option, but Seattle is reportedly trying to move him.  This isn’t really a surprise given the amount of options Seattle has for next season.  Dustin Ackley and Matt Tuiasosopo are among the internal options, while available free agent stopgaps include but are not limited to Orlando Hudson, Felipe Lopez, Juan Uribe, Melvin Mora, Brandon Inge and Mike Lowell.  Of course, Lopez hasn’t exactly made himself the most marketable man in baseball with his .603 OPS this season, but he has proved to be a good defender at the hot corner and he doesn’t cost a lot, making him a possible person of interest for teams in need.  The Phillies are the obvious match having lost both Placido Polanco and Chase Utley to the DL recently.  Lopez would be a nice fit in Philly with the left fiend bandbox.

David Aardsma

Earning $2.75M in his first year of arbitration, the DA is about to get expensive.  And while he’s been a fine closer for Seattle, he’s not quite reliable enough to justify paying big closer bucks.  He’ll get another big raise this offseason, perhaps upping his salary into the $4-5M range, meaning Seattle may be ready to cash in.  That said, Aardsma’s numbers this season aren’t nearly as pretty as his 2009 line, making it difficult for the Mariners to shop him as a top tier closer in a market that could include several solid late inning options.  Still, desperate teams have a way of giving up nice prospects for relief help.

Brandon League

Jon Paul Morosi tweeted a while ago that League was Seattle’s second best trade chip behind Lee, although I don’t recall seeing any further explanation.  League has failed to live up to expectations this season after just about everyone from the blogosphere to the team billed him as a shut down reliever with the best whiff pitch in baseball.  He wasn’t great through the first couple of months but has been better of late, and his overall numbers are good enough to generate interest from teams looking for cheap relief help.  I can’t imagine GM Jack Zduriencik will want to move a guy who he traded a blossoming Brandon Morrow for, but there’s no telling what enticing offer might make its way onto the table.  If Aardsma is dealt, League probably won’t be as the closer in waiting.

Jack Wilson

If a contender’s starting shortstop comes up lame, they could do worse than plugging the hole with Wilson.  Many fans would love for Wilson to be dished off on someone else, but does Zduriencik want to trade Wilson?  He knew he was injury prone and knew he wasn’t much with the bat, so is there any reason why he doesn’t feel comfortable going into 2011 with Wilson as his starting shortstop?

Erik Bedard

There has been some talk that if Erik Bedard pitches well for the Mariners in July he could be moved.  Given his injury history and the severity of his most recent, however, I have trouble seeing the Mariners getting enough back in return to make a deal worthwhile.  I wonder if the value of sticking with Bedard for the season and having the inside track in re-signing him next season (or exercising the $8M, although I would hope that he could be brought back on another incentive-laden one year contract).

Russell Branyan

I really don’t think Zduriencik acquired Branyan to flip at the deadline, but if the right deal comes across the table he might be able to be had.  Someone mentioned in the comments of another thread that Branyan could be offered up alongside with Cliff Lee in a deal to the Mets or Rangers for Ike Davis or Justin Smoak– and interesting idea.  Right now it looks like contenders are pretty well covered at first base for the most part, and there should be other appealing options on the trade market.

Others

• Casey Kotchman could probably be moved for scraps to a team in need of a late inning defensive replacement at first base.  Most contenders have good defensive first basemen this season, but someone might emerge.  The Angels make some sense.
• Chad Cordero has some name value to clubs, but may not get into enough games with Seattle to prove his worth.
• Josh Bard could be dished off on a team in need of some catching help (like the Red Sox right now, although they just acquired Kevin Cash).  Adam Moore should be in the big leagues anyway.