If the Rays trade Paredes, the Mariners remain my preferred trade partner because their system aligns with the Rays' needs so well. Rays have a huge need for a top catching prospect, which Ford would fill. They lack top outfield prospects, which Smith would help remedy. Teams can always use pitchers with elite stuff, and while there is a risk that Brash doesn't come back strong, it's a reasonable risk/reward to take given his current trade value. Last but not least is Peete, who the Rays were said to covet in last year's draft and who plays a position that is very much a weakness on the Rays' current active roster. Rays can't add enough SS to the Farm in my opinion. From the Mariners standpoint, they need a big consistent bat, which Paredes provides. They also need someone with a reasonable salary and ideally controlled beyond 2024. Paredes checks all of those boxes. Some will look under the Paredes' hood and complain about his hard hit rates and exit velocities (and some will even talk about it being harder to hit well in Seattle than it is in the Rays' dome). I'll just say this - Paredes has performed around a 4 WAR pace each year he's been a Ray and while he plays better at home (147 wRC+) than away (128 wRC+), his bat would become the best bat in Seattle's 2024 lineup even if he just hits at his away split.