Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto says that he’s not interested in acting as a seller at the deadline, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News-Tribune reports. Though the GM intends to “look into everything, that doesn’t mean he’ll consider parting with any major pieces from the major league roster.
“We’re not going to rip this thing down,” said Dipoto in a statement that would seem to take some of the more drastic possibilities off of the table. We haven’t heard any real chatter involving Seattle’s biggest names, but teams have at least asked about young pitchers James Paxton and Taijuan Walker. Certainly, parting with either of those potentially foundational arms would go beyond the organization’s apparent appetite for change.
That being said, Dipoto didn’t rule out some limited sales. He explained further:
“I’m not a big believer in moving the short-term player just because he’s a short-term player, but if there’s a way for us to get better — whether its in the present or the near future — we’ll do it. You’re not going to see us making trades for rookie-ball players and starting a full-scale rebuild. We are in a position to be very competitive. We feel like if we have one nice hot streak at the right time, we could be there.”
There are certainly some assets who could fit the bill for a change of scenery, with the M’s perhaps having a chance to recoup some value while parting with a piece that wasn’t of critical importance to the present season. Struggling veterans Adam Lind and Joaquin Benoit are examples cited by Dutton; both are pending free agents who are in the process of being replaced by younger options (Dan Vogelbach and Edwin Diaz, respectively).
Lefty Wade Miley comes with further control, but the Mariners may be ready to move on from some of his contract. One rival evaluator tells Dutton that he could imagine a late market coming together on the southpaw. If Seattle goes a step further, it could consider parting with players such as Seth Smith and Steve Cishek, but both are solid contributors who can be kept for another year.
Truth be told, with the organization still well within striking distance of both the AL West and the Wild Card race, there’s not much cause to break up the core, or even the non-core regulars assembled around it. As Dutton notes, there’s a real opportunity with the schedule set to ease up and some injured players filtering back from the DL. With a still-new front office and ownership group in command, there’s plenty of reason not to pack it in on the 2016 season at this juncture.
If anything, Dutton hints, the Mariners could consider looking to add if they’re able to tighten things up yet further over the next few days. There’s an argument to add arms, but the prospective returns of Walker to the rotation and Nick Vincent to the pen may obviate that need. Shortstop looks to be one area of concern, with Ketel Marte struggling even before being diagnosed with mononucleosis.
Gogerty
I know it probably would never happen. But I wonder what Cano could bring back. They have some talent and a good amount of youth, but King Felix and Cano account for more than 60% of their payroll next few years.
jbkelly33
I was thinking the same thing earlier about Cano.
User 4245925809
Would take back Miley in a flash and not to be smart about it.. How about taking the salary, giving back Elias and Seattle want something with upside.. Maybe Victor Diaz? 22yo kid who can hit 100, but has no clue where the ball is going and is pitching in A ball perhaps?
mdbaseball05
Just send us Smith back and I will be happy. It would almost be like that never happened in the first place…
myaccount
We have a logjam at reliever already, which will become massive when Zych, Furbush, Vincent, and Scribner are ready. If we’re trading Miley, it should be for guys who could at least potentially become starters. I don’t know how the Sox farm is in terms of their top prospects, but straight up for Sean Coyle could be an interesting possibility or a small package with Luis Ysla involved? I don’t see us getting any major league talent back, and Miley wouldn’t define “selling”, that’s for sure. I would rather have LeBlanc starting.
mdbaseball05
First, having Smith does create a logjam, but I would take it. They shouldn’t have done that trade in the first place. Why trade a dominant arm in the bullpen, a guy with a career 2.07 ERA in 3 years who is controlled through 2020 for a starter like Miley. Especially including Elias in the deal. Elias for Miley straight up would have been a fair trade.
Otherwise, I would take anyone that could contribute at the ML level. I’m more just bitter about the original trade. The Mariners have some decent depth at SP, so moving Miley is something they can handle.
User 4245925809
No deposit, no return there.. That was a coup for Boston even with Smith out until the end of next season with TJ surgery.
My point was that Some M’s fans here were screaming here about Elias being “better” than Miley to begin with, which of course isn’t true at all. Park factors, lack of any out pitch and -0- command are what ills Elias, while Miley is a fast worker and generally can carve up the zone.
Figured he would do well after finally getting to a large park and strange he didn’t. Why thought swapping back Elias and a hard throwing dreamer might work.
mdbaseball05
No, and I agree, Miley does have the slight edge on Elias. The difference is that Elias is cheaper and controlled longer while being a lot of the same pitcher. Again, the slight edge going to Miley. I think anyone that says Elias is better is wrong too…. it just in no way should have caused them to send Smith over. Ever. At worst he was one of the best setup men in baseball, and had the potential to be a long term closer though he struggled a little in that role.
I understand that they needed to go after him once they thought they lost out on Iwakuma. It was just a huge overpay for something we could have found elsewhere for less.
ThePriceWasRight
benoît has little value right now unfortunately.
ben g
M’s should pick up aybar from the braves. Hitting poorly but everyone knows he can hit and be a pescky hitter… No one know how long marte will be on the dl
Gogerty
The way Braves front office has been this year, they will probably pay you $3M to take him and not request much back.
tigermr1
Felix Hernandez to Marlins for Hechavarria, Naylor, Kolek, and another prospect
myaccount
Zero chance. Sorry to say, but your farm isn’t good enough and Hechavarria is more expensive and worse than Marte. If Felix was going to be hypothetically traded, I’m sure talks would have to begin with Ozuna and then you would have to add much more.
Sam.rhodes16
Not even close. For sentimental reasons alone, it would take an absolutely massive haul to move The King. I mean, they call him the freaking King! They don’t want a fringe SS, a decent 1B prospect (already have Vog for 1B), a starter with one pitch, and some rando prospect! Cmon man lets get real!
mdbaseball05
Yeah, that isn’t enough to give up Felix, though I do think they should consider given a chance. He is on the downhill with a big chance of decline, and they owe him a lot of money.
I think I would more target the Dodgers if shopping Felix. Maybe Urias and Pederson and a couple of lower level prospects with the Dodgers taking on money.. Maybe sending Felix and Benoit back to them. I’d also be curious of what they could get for Cruz and Cano if it came to that.
ThePriceWasRight
crazy. see gray, sonny when talking about the trade value of Felix right now. can’t get a package with arguably the top pitching prospect and a decent prospect of and 2 other prospects for a pitcher who’s velocity has been in decline and has been hurt. maybe Felix Benoit and smith for Puig and montas
mdbaseball05
Urias is already in play for Sale, so of course he would be involved. Yes, Sale has more value, but Felix is pitching to a 3.23 ERA (with a little help), and has a career 3.12 ERA. Moving that to the NL would just make him better, Plus, you have him for multiple years to pair with Kershaw atop that rotation with a 1-2-3 of Kershaw, Hernandez, and Maeda. Pretty dang good.
And I wasn’t saying the other 2 would be anything big. It could be Urias and Pederson plus 2 lower-level guys for Hernandez, Benoit, and Smith. You also get an experienced ace while Kershaw is out. The Dodgers are trying to win now.
mdbaseball05
Also, your point about comparing Felix to Sonny is off. Yes, they were both hurt, but Sonny has struggled and is having an off year with an ERA over 5. Felix has still shown his dominance this year outside of his DL stint. AND Felix’s ERA was even lower before giving up 11 runs in two outings since coming back after not pitching for almost 2 months, so he just needs to get back into the groove.
So yes, Felix will still command a lot. He had a sub 3.00 ERA before hitting the DL. He will be more than fine.
24TheKid
Maybe the Mariners can make that trade, but is Urias fast ball really only in the low 90’s?
mdbaseball05
Yes, but he is a lefty with great stuff. The kid is just that– a kid. He’s a 19 year old that struck out 48 batters in 40 IP this year. If he can get his walks in control, he can dominate. Him and Walker atop that rotation for years to come would be a great start.
24TheKid
The only way the Mariners consider trading Felix is if they get someone like Seager, Machado or Trout.
mdbaseball05
I don’t think any of those teams are in a position to include any of those. The Dodgers are relying on Seager and don’t have a replacement, the same goes for Machado (already a superstar), and the Angels aren’t giving up Trout if they get Hernancez (if they trade Trout, they are in sell mode and looking for prospects).
24TheKid
That’s why Felix will always be a mariner
mdbaseball05
Probably. I think if they could get a decent package with the likes of Urias and Pederson, they should take it though. Then, I’d wonder what they could get for Cruz and Cano.
That would give them a nice core of Walker, Urias, Paxton, Seager, Pederson, Vogelbach, Marte, and eventually Zunino again to build around. Add in a couple of pieces for the other two and it could be a nice core for making another run. Paying Felix and Cano $60M per year is going to be very bad in the next 2-3 years.
24TheKid
I think if they could make that trade with Hernandez they should do it, trade Cruz but keep Cano and Seager as the veteran part of the team, I think that a trade of Cruz and Smith could get a few top prospects if they did the trade now instead of later. Iwakuma could also probably get a picture prospect. But I also think that they should just make a move to get a high obp outfielder.
mdbaseball05
Yeah, Cano would be nice as a veteran, but he is owed a lot of money. I would rather find another SS and maybe move Marte to 2B if needed. Might even be able to make the Dodgers trade bigger and send Cano to them. You can always sign a couple of veteran hitters and pitchers in the off-season to help be the leaders and would only have to keep them around for a year or 2.
Agree on the OF situation too. If Marte can’t lead off long term, it’d be nice to find someone that could. Not really sure who that would be though. It’d also be nice to find someone that knows how to develop a farm system so we could get guys like Peterson and Jackson back on track.
24TheKid
On Jackson and Peterson, Jackson has started to slowly figure things out now, he has raised his average to around .250 now and Peterson has been crushing the ball in AA and AAA all year
toycannon
Felix can and will veto any trade. He wants to stay in Seattle.
ronk
Besides the fact that King doesn’t have the same value as Sale, you’re ignoring the Dodgers biggest issue this year has been OF production. There is a reason Puig is being shopped and Kendrick has had to learn LF on the fly. Pederson has been LA’s best OF this year when healthy and wouldn’t be involved in a move unless its up upgrade an OF position.
tweederblues
Remember this proposes deal for Felix back in 2009……According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. Baker hears that the Red Sox gave the Mariners the chance to choose five of the following players in exchange for Felix Hernandez:
Clay Buchholz
Daniel Bard
Justin Masterson
Nick Hagadone
Michael Bowden
Felix Doubront
Josh Reddick
Yamaico Navarro
Talk about prospects not panning out.
24TheKid
Jack deserves credit for not making that trade
Connorsoxfan
Bard didn’t suck until they screwed him up by trying to start him. He’s still not right in the head. Buchholz and Reddick panned out. Reddick more so, obviously. But I’d consider Buchholz a win. I think E-Rod is gonna be the second coming of Felix Doubront. Which is too bad, I had high hopes for him. Masterson had a few good years. Don’t remember much about Bowden, just his name. Never heard of these other guys. Gee, i wish Boston said they could’ve had all of them for Hernandez! 🙂
yayro
I don’t totally agree there. Buchholz was as good as Felix in 2010 and 2013, though maddeningly inconsistent in between and a dog afterward. Bard still had his two best seasons coming in 2010 and 2011. Masterson was a serviceable starter for several years after 2009. Reddick would have made a nice replacement for Ichiro once Ichiro moved on.
Would it have been perfect? No, but it wouldn’t have been lopsided if the M’s started with those four.
TJECK109
Seems like Walker has been mentioned in trade rumors for the last 10 years
mdbaseball05
True, it’s just the other way around now. Before he was part of packages for the likes of Stanton, etc. Now it’s packages for him.
That does remind me though of the time Upton rejected a trade to the Mariners that would have sent Walker, Furbush, Franklin, and Pryor to the DBacks. Glad that one failed…
24TheKid
And then Jack loses the little credit he earned for his obsession for strike out or hit out right handed hitters.
mdbaseball05
Lol yep. Big, spacious ballpark with a big and deep outfield… let’s get a bunch of slow power-hitting guys to play outfield instead of speedy guys that can hit into the gaps and cover ground in the filed.
Great strategy, Jack Z. You needed one power guy to protect that you could DH, not 3.
Brixton
To be completely honest, if they truly wanted to sell, I wouldn’t mind a Red Sox/Dodgers type deal with the Phillies around Cano/Walker/any other contract they want to give up
mdbaseball05
How would you see that working out and what pieces would go where?
Brixton
Just spitballing.
Phillies get Cano, Paxton and have to pay Cano’s whole contract.
Mariners get Mark Appel (4), Andrew Knapp (9) and Dylan Cozens (21, but due for a big leap) The numbers are the ranking in the Phillies farm system (MLB)
Brixton
More of a salary dump kind of deal where the Mariners get some decent (albeit risky) prospects and salary relief in exchange for Cano and a risky Paxton
24TheKid
Explain the deal your thinking of, who goes where?
angelsfan4life
As an Angels fan Jerry Dipsnot always trades good players for players that should be career minor leaguers. Look at the roster he inherited when he became the Angels GM, compared to now
24TheKid
He also had to do what ever the owner and manager wanted to do instead of his own ideas
angelsfan4life
His idea was trade Trumbo. Sign CJ Wilson. Trade Walden. Trade an 18 pitcher that can hit 100 mph with his fastball. How has any of his trades worked out in Seattle? Traded 4 players for a pitcher he just gave away. Traded Trumbo again for a bag of peanuts.
24TheKid
What pitcher did he just give away? The Trumbo trade made sense as he doesn’t have a place on the team, neither did Brad Miller and Logan Morrison, Leonys Martin has more than anyone could of hoped and the only player we haven’t gotten back from Texas we traded them is Jones, the only questionable trade was Miley becuse of what he gave up, but at the time we had just lost Iwakuma, and for his work with the Angels, those are the types of moves you have to make when you have to work with 2 of the worst contracts in baseball.
24TheKid
Umm do you know anything about the Dipoto?
warrenmoonjuniorakawamu2
If Seth Smith gets traded I’m going to be pissed.