How Mariners may have kneecapped themselves with the Harry Ford trade

Los Angeles Dodgers v Seattle Mariners | Stephen Brashear/GettyImagesFrom a pure value standpoint, it’s hard to hate the Harry Ford-for-Jose A. Ferrer stunner. The Seattle Mariners turned a prospect with an uncertain defensive future into a hard-throwing lefty who fits their bullpen identity almost a little too perfectly. That’s the kind of “prioritize the present” move a win-now team is supposed to make.

But in solving one problem, the Mariners quietly created another: they completely nuked their catching depth chart.

Right now, the 40-man roster has exactly one catcher: Cal Raleigh. That’s it. No safety net, no soft landing, no “break glass in case of Tuesday getaway game.” Just Big Dumper…