The latest from the American League…
- If the trade-happy Mariners have their way, third baseman Kyle Seager will be the next veteran to depart. The club’s willing to do “whatever it takes” to deal Seager, Buster Olney of ESPN writes (subscription required). Long one of the majors’ most underrated players, the 31-year-old Seager is coming off an uncharacteristically rough season and still has a guaranteed $57MM left on his contract. Seager’s presence is no longer needed in Seattle, which is rebuilding and trying to cut payroll, though it could be difficult to deal him on the heels of such a disappointing campaign. With that in mind, Olney suggests the Mariners could either swap Seager for another team’s unwanted contract or package him with one of their best remaining assets (Mitch Haniger or Jean Segura) to get his money off the books.
- Like Seager, Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez endured a surprisingly poor season in 2018. However, Sanchez is “not for sale,” general manager Brian Cashman tells Jack Curry of the YES Network (video link). The Yankees expect to be “proven correct” that Sanchez is a franchise catcher, per Cashman, who has consistently defended the 26-year-old in recent months. So, although Sanchez has come up in trade rumors as recently as this week, it appears he’ll stay put.
- Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer is another offseason trade candidate, but he explained to MLB Network this week that it wouldn’t make sense for the Tribe to deal him now. “There’s a lot of reasons I think that [the Indians should not trade me],” Bauer said (via Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com). “Ultimately, I think the surplus value on me this year is just way too high. Even with an arbitration raise, you’re probably talking about $15 to $20 million of surplus value.” Bauer added that it would be more logical for the Indians to move him a year from now, when his price will rise and he’ll be just one year from reaching free agency. The 27-year-old provided oodles of surplus value to the Indians in 2018, when he logged an amazing 2.21 ERA/2.44 FIP over 175 1/3 innings for a little more than $6.5MM. He’s projected to earn another reasonable salary – $11.6MM – in 2019.
xabial
Gary Sanchez future 2019 Comeback Player of the Year
justin-turner overdrive
If he hits .220, he’ll get it for sure.
He actually sucks btw.
NotaGM
hmm…had a decent rookie & sophomore season. His pants were down last year which tells why you know he sucks.
stansfield123
Does he now? What other catcher has hit a HR every 14 ABs, over his career? Feel free to go back in time, as far as it takes, to try and find one.
myaccount
I’m willing to bet you when it’s all said and done that he doesn’t average a HR every 14 AB.
Cuso
May be 1/12.5
justin-turner overdrive
so he’s chris carter but a catcher, awesome counterpoint
xabial
REPOST: (waiting for reply)
Gary Sanchez isn’t a DH. Tired narrative. He was worth +6 Defensive Runs Saved, despite leading passed balls. He has elite arm strength throwing out runners:
“Sanchez’s arm keeps pitchers from worrying about stolen bases. His throws have averaged 86.8 mph this year. That’s 4th fastest among catchers with at least 10 attempts. 2017, he averaged 87.8 mph, 3rd-fastest in MLB.
“Sanchez’s pitch framing — ability to persuade umpires to call strikes — prevented 4.8 runs this season, the same number as Romine.”
nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2018/10/whats_gary_sanche…
metfan4ever
Let me understand::the most important thing a Catcher needs to do is hit HR. HE LEAD MLB IN PASSBALL IN 17 & 18. IN 2018 HE DID THAT IN ALL OF 76 GAMES. He calls a poor game, doesn’t frame well & alot of the wild pitches are really on him because he doesn’t block the ball well. He’s 26 year old so it’s not like he just started C-ing. What other W/S winner was LEAD in HR by their C. If the Marlins give them JT for him jump on it.
petrie000
What other player gets judged purely by abs per hr?
If you have to get that specific to find a players high point, you have a problem…
yanks02026
Actually he calls a good game and pitchers like pitching to him.. He has a problem with pass balls and thats it.. I really love how people post when they know nothing about the subject they’re discussing..
Sheldon Bowen
His issue really is hustle. People see it more when you’re struggling.
deweybelongsinthehall
Xab,
I’m one who look at Sanchez and suggest he has Johnny Bench type potential. That said, please stop using sabermetric statistics like defensive runs saved. Any fan with a set of eyes can see he was a liability behind the plate this past year.
biasisrelitive
If Chris Carter could catch he would be a stud
JKB 2
Stansfield what is your point. The statement was Sanchez suck now. Je does suck now and be did not a homer every 14 AB’s last year and no one thinks he will do so for his career.
So he had a big rookie year. Congratulations. That was yesterday.
jonesadoug
There’s a lot more to catching than just hitting home runs.
yanks02026
Every day you post something dumber and dumber, yet you don’t think you’re a troll.. If you honestly think Gary Sanchez sucks because he had a down year, you know NOTHING about baseball.
bababooeytoyall
I wouldn’t say he sucks. He’s just not that good. Are we sure he’s playing baseball?
Latino6464
Gary is garbage, trade now
chaibueno
Oooofffff
SoCalBrave
if the Yankees finally realize he’s not a catcher and play him exclusively at DH, he could be.
Slevin
Just stop!!!
metfan4ever
Stanton is their $30mil a yr DH. Maybe 1B
Slevin
Get it through your thick ass skull.. Stanton isn’t payed 30 million a year!!!
xabial
Yankees don’t pay 30m AAV for Stanton (?)
But Sure!
Right after they sign Bryce.
Slevin
I’m confused on your post.
Mjm117
Nope!
He’ll get at least 25 mill for the next 9 seasons.
Slevin
NO
Dodgethis
What do you mean know? Man you’re about as ignorant as can be, aren’t you?
yogineely
Yeah, duh, they’re waiting for him to be 31 years old before they pay him $30 mill a year, way better!
yogineely
From 2021-2026 Stanton will get 29-31 mill not 25 mill each of the next 9 seasons
qbass187
Sanchez suuuuuuuuccccckkkkkkkssssssssssssssssssss!
Ken M.
The Joey Gallo of catchers.
Slevin
You’re the Gumby of posters.
MetsYankeesRedSox
I know two people that can be the blockhead twins!
youtu.be/6FZr5df6DGw
Slevin
Balk and baseball1600
deweybelongsinthehall
Xab,
Has Sanchez been a pro long enough for a comeback award?
JKB 2
Why do you need to ask xabial? The answer is yes. There is no minimum service time required for that.
Astros44
Did somebody say oodles?
aj_54
Fact
stevebaratta
I haven’t heard that since I was 8, watching Dick Tracy cartoons with villains The Brow and Oodles on WGN after Cubs games.
jdwakefield
You’re showing your age Steve.
DockEllisDee
I’m a shade surprised the old silver fox here knows how to log in.. jk I know what he’s talking about, God I miss the old Harry Carey day games
stevebaratta
It’s ok, I get discounts at some fast food places. That’s if I can remember to ask for them.
metfan4ever
They showed cartoons AFTER the Cub’s games.
spitball
Not til they have all pitchers who throw only fastballs!
ABP
NO. You DO NOT package Haniger to get rid of Seager. No. The Mariners are not financially strapped especially after trading Cano. I was reluctant with them doing it for Diaz as it surely limited the overall haul we received from the Mets. But in the end I was okay with the conclusion. But for Seagar? EAT THAT MONEY OWNERSHIP. If you’re going to trade Haniger, an All Star with 4 years of club control at a bargain salary, you rip the jugular out of whatever team you trade him too. You don’t attach a turd to the package and limit return so you can save money all while charging fans $11 for a beer. If this is a rebuild you go for **maximum** return to make this rebuild successful. Trade him to the Braves packaged with Pazos for some of their top prospects. You do not, under any circumstance, marginalize your return so a financially healthy ownership saves a few dollars.
pinkerton
You seem distraught.
MetsYankeesRedSox
I didn’t see an exclamation points.
NotaGM
that’s because you are sitting on them….like the feeling still? try wiggling you may like it.
Slevin
Check the videotape and you will!!!
ABP
It’s common sense. If Dipoto does this it’s idiotic. And yes, I would be very distraught. Try being a fan of the longest playoff drought in **any** professional sport and then see idiotic ideas like that being floated and you too would be ‘distraught.’
aj_54
I thought that was the bills
sidewinder11
Bills made the playoffs last year
Dave W
Dipoto is actually being really smart! Will it work? Time will tell. If I have one complaint about Dipoto, it is, he should of cleaned house the day he walked in the door. I understand the frustration with the Mariners, but, for once, they can care less what the fans think. Most “fans” have no idea what they are talking about most of the time, anyways!
justin-turner overdrive
You should follow another team then, as the M’s haven’t sniffed October baseball since 2001, and unless you remember how that team was built (and I’m not saying do the same thing, times have changed, and MLB changes annually too) but if the M’s are all you care about, then I doubt you even know what a contender even looks like, no disrespect.
Mariners, Marlins, White Sox and Padres fans have to be among the most clueless as to how to build a winner, simply because it’s been 8+ years since they were in the title hunt – if you can remember the last time, good for you, but if you’re under 30, chances are you can’t see the forest from the trees at this point.
jerrytek
Your argument, in a nutshell: if your local team hasn’t been good, you have no ability to understand anything about ‘goodness,’ and are clearly ignorant of how baseball works.
The good new: there was a recent invention, the internet, that makes it possible to get information beyond that which is available in the local newspaper or by watching games in person. Many fans, like myself, use this tool to learn about the sport.
Really bad argument. I think you should give M’s fans – and fans of bad teams everywhere – the benefit of the doubt. We aren’t all idiots.
justin-turner overdrive
Not “goodness”, literally “making the postseason”
Dagoat
The key statement there was “no disrespect”, Cause that’s all hes dishing out. just let it be there’s nothing there
jerrytek
Making the what? Postseason? What is that? Is that good?
I really appreciate you taking the time respectfully explain these confusing terms. As a Mariners fan, I am completely ignorant of these things.
EndinStealth
Kind of insulting to think people were ignorant before the internet.
Crimson37
No mariners fan do know how mariners ownership does not. However this new ownership is trying something new unlike last ownwnes
muskie73
Since GM Jerry Dipoto’s arrival the Seattle Mariners have a better cumulative regular-season record than 10 American League clubs.
Just no postseason appearance.
SRolen
” it’s been 8+ years since they were in the title hunt”
Phillies are closing fast on the eight year mark and rumors are they have more money to spend than any team in MLB, but so far not even a hot rumor of spending anything.
robbiecraig
How about Seager and Haniger for Tyler O’Neil and Jose Martinez?
WsuMojo
Ouch. If the Ms take back O’Neill he’ll strike out 69% of his at bats and be out of baseball in 3 years. Let him stay with the Cards and he’ll be a future HOFer.
dvogt
I’d rather throw in Dexter Fowler’s terrible contract along with a pitching prospect since we have so many
dave13
Not even close, I’m not even a Mariners fan and that’s laughable
BuddyBoy
Hell no!!!!! Martinez is a DH and Oneill is going to be a bust with his 40% k rate
DockEllisDee
@kaehlaone – that said, I really hope Martinez lands with an AL team so he can DH and put up 300/400/500 w 30+ HR and 100+ steaks
Dave W
How about, thank God that you aren’t running the M’s? Why do some of you have such a hard on for Tyler O’Neill?
bighiggy
How about seager for Cecil and poncedeleon. We shed cecil and his 15 mil, the Mariners get some salary relief and a pitching prospect.
WsuMojo
Wow I was going to say basically the same thing. If u attach Haniger and barely get an good prospects back just to shed Seagers salary, the Ms still lose out in the upcoming years. Why? Because what will the Ms do with say an extra $10mil a yr for 2-3 years? You can’t get great talent these days with that – heck another Mike Leake type #4 starter with a losing record and 4.5+ ERA. Sticking with Seager and hopes he rebounds (then trade him next year) and trade Haniger for equal prospect talent is the one and only possible solution to a rebuild. The Ms can’t sign any awesome cheap talent so you better as hell maximize your last two trade chips (Haniger and segura) for the best prospects you can.
Crimson37
You dont trade haniger period you build around him. 2 year from now if the team is still in rebuild mode then maybe.
debubba
Braves? They just picked their starting 3B last week.
The Oregonian
He meant Haniger, not Seager.
ABP
Correct
Horace
We really don’t know what the Mariner’s financial solvency or goals are.
They had a high payroll and attendance was mediocre.
Nintendo only owns 10% after they sold to Stanton et al.
ck420
Hanniger has a good bat but the glove is mediocre he is a nice complementary piece on a great team but not someone you build around
jerrytek
Wow. This is wrong on so many levels.
Haniger’s glove is mediocre in CF, and well above average in either corner. His bat is good at any position. He’s better than his defensive stats for last year would suggest. As a corner OFer, he’s a 5 WAR guy.
He’s a very very good player.
hoof hearted
“Good bat but the glove is mediocre”
Ya, I was laughing at that too.
jkurk_22
ABP… I completely agree with your assessment of how the M’s should handle that situation. However, as a Braves fan, I’ll pass. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to get Haniger, but I don’t want to rip out our jugular of prospects for him. I’d rather just resign Markakis and if we’re trading top prospects I’d like to see an ace headed our way.
ABP
Ha. Don’t blame you. I was hoping for a package of Haniger/Diaz to the Braves. That would have solved the corner outfield spot and bullpen arm you’re looking for as well as the fact your farm is very deep and pairs nicely with what we’d ask for in return. But…….Cano.
Cuso
You’re acting as if you’d be apoplectic if the Mariners did this. Does the Mariners’ FO have a history of being shrewd at any time in its existence?
Why would you expect that now?
Dave W
The Mariners are not going to get top prospects for Seager
GeoKaplan
Fascinating idea: Trade Seager to the Braves, who just committed $23M to Donaldson to play 3B, so combined with Seager’s $19M salary for next season, that would have the Braves paying (hold on…add the nine…carry the ten…) Eleventy Million Dollars for two players at one position.
Of course, Donaldson is paid only for next year, while Seager is owed $71M through 2022 (if traded).
Your ideas are intriguing and I wish to subscribe to your podcast.
ABP
Was this post directed at me? My proposal had nothing to do with shipping Seagar to the Braves especially now given the Donaldson acquisition. My proposal was Haniger and Pazos — or what I’d really have preferred, Haniger and Diaz. A solid relief arm and an All Star corner outfielder are needs of the Braves. None the less, you can still subscribe to my reading comprehension series if you’d like. It’s elementary but I think you’d fit in quite nicely!
Bone4233
How about Saeger and Haniger for Fowler, Weaver, and Kelly?
pinkerton
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Phils get a Seager/Segura combo. We can move on from Franco finally.
SoCalBrave
The Phillies make sense, but they need to push hard for Harper or Machado first. If they sign Harper, get Seager and Segura, if they sign Machado, get Seager and Haniger. Either way a package of Franco, Santana, Bohm and JoJo and/or 20 Million to offset Santana’s salary, should be more than enough.
stubby66
Dodgers find away to make a deal for Haniger and Seager from Seattle then move Seager to second with him rebounding. lol
ateam043
Not a bad idea
baseball1600
Trade Bauer to the Astros just for the lols.
Mr_KLC
I was thinking the same thing. Make him and Bregman roommates.
mlb1225
Nah, you have to make him and Cole roommates.
nymetsking
With a bunkbed, you could room all three together. MLB network could have its first hit reality show.
NotaGM
Baur would be smart to move. Yes, he had a creer year last year however his WHIP was tanked most of his career. If trade the value now but again that’s why I’m notagm.
tomselleck
Bauer sure seems to think highly of himself.
sufferforsnakes
Hmmm, can you pitch as well as he can? Right, didn’t think so.
justin-turner overdrive
if you dont think highly of yourself, who else will?
kaido24
Seagar has the Cardinals written all over it.
robertj53086
Hope not but if it happens than Fowler is the return.
jimbo504 2
my thoughts exactly robert. Fowler for Seager makes some sense, they have pretty close to equal money left on their deals, Fowler has something like $48m left.
jerrytek
The problems with this idea: Seager is better than Fowler…and he’s younger…and a better fit for the team. The Mariners just acquired a CFer that is better and cheaper than Fowler. The don’t have any better 3B options on the team. Fowlers contract is extremely similar to Seagers (same duration, with a few million AAV), so it wouldn’t be a salary dump.
Why would the M’s want Fowler? Unless the Cards included some good young talent, it makes zero sense.
fourth_dimension
to STL
Seager
Segura
Pazos
to SEA
Fowler
Wong
Hudson (#3 STL, #93 overall MLB prospect – already MLB ready – pitched last season)
Jr. Fernandez (#14 Cards prospect RHP)
Sosa (#15 Cards prospect SS)
jerrytek
Why would the M’s ever do this?
Seager for Fowler, straight up, is a bad deal for the M’s. See my comment above. His inclusion would need to be offset by better talent coming back to the M’s.
Segura and Pazos are worth far more than Wong, Hudson, etc.
This makes no sense for the M’s.
JFactor
The cards can’t trade Fowler’s signing bonus money, so it’s $43.5M for Seager’s $56M (not including the option year)
So a straight swap would save the M’s about $12.5M over 3 years. But I dunno if this is really a match. Cards can keep Fowler for depth and would probably prefer a better upgrade at 1B/3B. And the M’s wouldn’t want that much salary coming back
yogineely
That’s so bad
StlSwifty
Seager for Fowler straight up in a bad contract swap?
yogineely
I like how St. Louis fans are trying to convince us seager has a bad contract. Seats is fair and the contract you gave to Fowler is horrible, Wong no body wants either
gotothevideotape
What happened with Cruz?
Is he going, did I miss something? Too much gift
wrapping!
sidewinder11
Cruz is a free agent
gotothevideotape
Side,
Thank You Guy
antsmith7
Please someone take Seager! Package him with Segura!
Friarfaithful117
Seager to the Padres?
costergaard2
Seager to the Dodgers. Then they’ll be the law firm of Seager & Seager…
RATTY
Ditto- Seager to the Pads
bleacherbum
3B Kyle Seager plus SP Mike Leake almost equal what’s left on 1B/OF Wil Myers deal.
If that’s not the perfect bad contract swap I don’t know what is.
Obviously the Padres would have to add to Myers to get the Mariners attention but I think Myers plus Jacob Nix and Robert Stock get the Mariners attention. Without any money switching hands.
Seager gets to play closer to his brother on the West Coast and Leake waives his NTC to go pitch in his hometown San Diego.
Myers gets a fresh start, he Haniger, Gordon, Mallex Smith and company start to form the new core.
Getting Dunn, Bautista plus Swarzak in the Cano deal, plus possibly Nix and Stock in this deal really improves the Seattle bullpen/rotation with young controllable arms.
The Padres hope to get Seager to rebound while adding his LHH power bat somewhere in the 5-6 hole of the lineup.
Leake would be a solid #3 behind hopefully Syndergaard and Lamet. We shall see if the Padres/Mariners connection has legs to the rumors but their bad contracts lineup well.
bleacherbum
Actually Seattle has added Sheffield, Sanchez, Dunn, Bautista, Swarzak.
The deal above will make that plus: Jacob Nix, Robert Stock.
Seattle needs to keep stockpiling young arms.
jerrytek
I’m an M’s fan, and this is interesting.
The problem is the money and fit. Myers has an extra year on his deal, so the Seager/Myers swap wouldn’t make sense unless the M’s thought Myers was a good bet to improve a lot. Leake’s contract isn’t bad: its pretty close to market value. He’ll earn his salary (at least the part of it that the M’s are responsible for).
Plus, it isn’t a terribly good fit from a positional standpoint. The M’s have better OF depth than infield depth.
If the Pads sweetened the deal a bit, it could be a good option. Stock and Nix would make it a pretty enticing deal.
AJPGotThat2020Vision
Yup exactly what the Padres need right now-another overpriced, below average, quickly declining corner infielder
ck420
Seager sucks get rid of him any way possible
jerrytek
In seven full seasons, Kyle Seager has produced 27 WAR. That’s an average of 3.58 per season, even including his struggles in 2018. Steamer projects 2.6 WAR, even coming off that bad 2018.
Kyle Seager is a really good player.
muskie73
Thank you for the Steamer’s Kyle Seager projection of a 2019 WAR of 2.6, which this year was valued at about $21 million.
In other words, more than Seager’s annual salaries in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Binnington50
Convince Fowler to waive his NTC and send him to Seattle for Seager.
muskie73
Seattle needs a third baseman more than it needs an underperforming outfielder.
yogineely
That’s such a bad deal, you’re not getting rid of that dumb contract, sorry
skrockij89
M’s aren’t strapped for cash. Keep Seager and hope he rebounds and trade him then. I would lock Haniger up with an extension.
arc89
That would be doing the same thing the mariners did to get in the Seager mess. Haniger is not even arbitration yet. Wait and see if he is the real deal before signing him long term. Mariners signed Seager after a career year and it cost them big time now. Haniger is a good player but not a super star player. Wait another 2 years before thinking about giving him a long term deal.
baseballpun
Fowler/JMart/Weaver/Reliever for Seager/Haniger?
marinerfan
I’d keep Seager another year, see if he bounces back. But by all means, KEEP HANIGER!!!
mmarinersfan
There’s no reason to add someone else to Seager. It’s different for Cano for obvious reasons. But in no way shape or form are the situations similar. The mariners can get value for Seager without adding someone else in.
Jacob Fluegge
Kyle Seager for Luke Weaver straight up with some cash coming the Cardinals way?
ck420
Seager is still better than Fowler get the hell outta here with that
muskie73
Steamer projects 2019 WAR of 0.7 in 87 games for nearly 33-year-old Dexter Fowler and 2.6 in 149 games for 31-year-old Kyle Seager.
Even if the Mariners had a backup plan at third base the trade proposal makes no sense..
hoof hearted
I’m glad others are saying : keep seagar-see if he can rebound. And DON’T do anything with Hanover, except pencil him in at RF.
baseballpun
That might make more sense but doesn’t seem to be Dipotos plan.
AJPGotThat2020Vision
I think they should trade Hanover for Saxony
baseballpun
Just for accuracy’s sake, assuming the Cards remain on the hook for Dex’s signing bonus, a straight swap would save Seattle $9.5m from 2019-2021 and another $15m in 2022.
muskie73
Dexter Fowler’s $10 million signing bonus still has six $1 million installments due in 2019 through 2021, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts:
legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/na…
With the club option the Mariners owe Kyle Seager nothing in 2022. According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts the 2022 option becomes a player option if Seager is traded.
legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/al…
Steamer projects 2019 WAR of 0.7 in 87 games for nearly 33-year-old Dexter Fowler and 2.6 in 149 games for 31-year-old Kyle Seager.
Even if the Mariners had a backup plan at third base the trade proposal makes no sense..
baseballpun
Didn’t see that 2022 was a club option on the site I saw. Thanks.
jtmorgan
It becomes a player option if he’s traded which makes this really awkward. Makes him less valuable and a team taking on more money if he doesn’t rebound pretty substantially.
batty
It’s a great thought to trade Fowler for Seager, on the Cardinals side. But there are problems with it. First, despite Fowler, seemingly, being unhappy as a Cardinal, he’d be going to a team with much less of a chance to be competitive. He’s very unlikely to waive his full NTC for that very reason. But if he could somehow be convinced to waive it, the Cardinals would need to throw in a sweetener. Perhaps a Hesley might be the “price”.
The package and/or arrangement could be expanded as well. Add Gyorko in the return for Seattle so they have a 3rd base option and Povse coming back to the Cards.
All that said, there actually might need to be a third team involved willing to take Fowler for little to nothing going the other way(s).
I have to believe that the Cards are willing to eat part of Fowler’s contract to jettison him.
bighiggy
I’m thinking the Mariners wouldnt want Fowler. But maybe they would move seager for say Cecil and gyorko? They would save some money, and have a third baseman. We would improve at third and bullpen just by cecil being gone, while also not taking on alot of extra money. I think seagers due 57 mil. Cecil’s due 15 and gyorko 13 I think, with an option. So seager becomes a 40 mil commitment over 3 years. Could work for both sides
batty
That’s why i suggested a third team might be needed.
Your proposal isn’t bad, but the Cards are only paying $8 mil of Gyorko’s owed $13 mil. The Padres are paying the other $5 mil. Plus, there’s a team option with a $1 mil buyout for Jedd. So in total, that’s swapping $24 mil to the M’s for $56 mil base that would be owed by the Cards. BUT, if Seager is traded, his club option for $15 mil in 2022 becomes a player option. So, in reality, the total for Seager rises to a possible $71 mil. In your scenario, the Cards would need to get at least 1, maybe 2, decent prospects in their return. Somewhere in the 12 to 20 range of team top 30.
Now, Seager might decline that option if he’s playing well and healthy, but it’s a risk, on the Cards part, none the less.
bighiggy
That could work! Good insight
mrnatewalter
“The club’s willing to do “whatever it takes” to deal Seager,”
Okay, Dipoto, give the Giants Haniger, Kelenic, Dunn, and Seager.
The Giants will give you Samardzija, Melancon, and Longoria.
You said, “whatever it takes”
Houston We Have A Solution
Whatever it takes to reduce Mariners financial obligations to him. Not add more salary. That’s the whole point of doing whatever it takes to get rid of his salary. Not add more salary to replace his.
Dealing Cano looking to deal Leake and segura they’re looking to shed salary. Not take on more salary.
mrnatewalter
It was a joke.
It’s said they’ll do “whatever it takes.”
MarinerMiner
The Mariners ownership are also going to be getting money from a new contract to the naming rights to the stadium. The Safeco contract has expired.
Houston We Have A Solution
Kyle Seager and Mike Leake for Eric Hosmer Brett Kennedy to replace Leake in the rotation and 1 or 2 lower level prospects. Padres can shift Myers back to 1st pick up an innings eater, Mariners clear salary.
24TheKid
Hosmer makes absolutely no sense for the Mariners.
Houston We Have A Solution
Is the point to get something back or to clear salary? Cause they’d save about 10mill in 2019 and 10 Mill in 2020 by swapping contracts. They’d also pay Hosmer 2 Mill more in 2019 than they’d pay seager. And have to deal with a 4 year 60 Mill contract assuming he opts in which he may. Also I’d assume the Padres would send back lower prospects Cish range to facilitate the deal.
yogineely
You still have to put together a roster
bleacherbum
Hosmer isn’t getting traded after year 1 of that deal. The organization values him highly anyway. He won’t be moved.
jbigz12
How do the M’s clear salary? They get your junk 1B for the same exact cost. Hosmer is guaranteed 80MM over the next four and then if he never rebounds he has the right to earn himself another 39 over the last 3. Leake and Seager are owed 93 total. Seattle could end up picking up more money for Brett Kennedy? No thanks. Leake still has value as an innings eater and I’ll take seager’s chances of bouncing back for less guaranteed money at a more useful position.
Houston We Have A Solution
Seager and Leake make 10 Mill more combinef than Hosmer does in 2019 and 2020.
Hosmer makes 2 Mill more than Seager does in 2021.
That leaves 4 years 60 Mill obligation to Hosmer 2022-2025. His price reduced to 3 years 13 Mill a year from 2023 2024 2025.
jerrytek
Nobody wants that contract
WsuMojo
Ha good try trying to dump that horrible Hosmer contract, but even Dipoto wouldn’t make that horrendous deal. And if you can’t get Dipoto to take it since he always gets ripped off, no one else will fall for it.
Houston We Have A Solution
Hosmer is making 21 Mill in 2019 2020 2021 2022 then it converts to a 3 year 39mill contract.
Seager is making 19.5 2019 2020 2021. Leake is making 16 Mill in 2019 15 Mill 2020. Trading both saved them roughly 10 Mill in 2019 and 10 Mill in 2020.
They’d spend 2 Mill more in 2021 to pay Hosmer than they’d pay Seager.
Leaving them with a 4 year 60 Mill deal for Hosmer.
jbigz12
Youre assuming that they’d want hosmer for that price and that Leake and seager have no value. Too many flaws in that logic. Hosmer is paid way too much at a non premium defensive position. Seager is a season removed from being a productive player and Leake still does what he was signed to do. Eat innings in the back half of a rotation. Sure, Hosmer is a season removed from being productive too but his deal was bad the day it was signed. Had he produced this year SDP wouldn’t have had an easy time moving him. They certainly won’t w the way he played.
Houston We Have A Solution
Leake and Seager don’t have value. Not at their current prices. Nor does Hosmer. Whole point of excitement changing bad contracts with the Padres kicking in a couple C/C+ level prospects
jerrytek
Leake is worth his contract, or modestly overpaid at worst.
Seager is coming off a bad year, but his contract is near the albatross that Hosmer’s is. The M’s don’t want more long term, bloated contacts. They are actively getting rid of them.
Leake and Seager for Myers+? That’s not silly.
jbigz12
How much money does Seattle realistically have to move on leake’s deal if they just want to trade him? Not all that much. 2/25 would be fair for Leake and he’s owed 36. They eat about 10 and they can offload the guy without any problems. They saved more money there then they did in your hosmer scenario without even have to think about moving seager.
Houston We Have A Solution
They’d have to eat 14 Mill. He’s worth a 2 year 22 Mill deal at market value for his profuction.
If they want to eat 14 Mill sure go for it. They’d get back a fringe prospect or 2 similar to the James shield deal. Padres lucked out that tatis Jr became what he has but that’s what Mariners would get for Leake a lottery ticket.
jerrytek
Not really.
St. Louis is paying $9 million of his contract the next two years. I’m not sure if they will be responsible for part of his 5 mil buyout for 2021. But the M’s – or anyone they trade Leake to – will only pay $11 per year in 2019-20.
Worst case scenario, his salary would be 2/26 or 3/40 if they pick up the option.
That’s about market value for a reliable inning eater type.
hoof hearted
Cards are paying about $5m each year.
So Seattle is really only paying $10 and 11m.
Thronson5
Curious, can Saeger okay other positions other than just 3rd? I don’t follow the Mariners and don’t know if he’s ever played other positions like 2nd base. If he can play 2nd maybe the Dodgers can trade for him? Or play him at 3rd and move Turner to 2nd where he has experience. The Dodgers need a solution at 2nd base and not only would that solve that it would also put the Saeger bothers on the same team which would be pretty cool. I know he had a down year but I still think he should bounce back.
muskie73
Kyle Seager was drafted as a second baseman:
baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2009&dr…
Seager had played 22 MLB games at second base but only one inning since 2012:
baseball-reference.com/players/s/seageky01.shtml
Thronson5
Thank you!! That answers my question. Definitely would like to see the Dodgers try to trade for him then and move him 2nd. Even though it’s been a while since he’s played there I think he’d be fine.
Soldierofgod619
If the Mariners eat 25m off that deal i can see him going down to San Diego. Playing in the same division as his brother and he could be a nice bounce back candidate.
Houston We Have A Solution
Have to move Myers contract off the books 1st.
bts76
The White Sox have a loaded farm system and a hole at 3B. Steele Walker, Blake Rutherford, Micker Adolfo, Gonzalez and Basabe are in a crowded outfield. I’d say pick your flavor among those kids and another mid-lower Prospect.
gr8testsoxfan
Seager and Haniger to the white Sox would be a good pickup. Adams, Adolfo, Yolmer going back
Brixton
Seager and Segura for Carlos Santana, Tommy Hunter, JP Crawford and Zach Eflin
wazzuhawk
Lol…why would the Mariners do that? They are in a rebuild, they would want prospects for Segura and Seager isn’t that bad. He played half the season with a broken toe in his plant foot. They might be interested in Crawford but they will want good prospects to…not thinks Seager would be going to
Philly, just Segura.
petrie000
It’s strangely amusing to me how it seems to be impossible to have a middling opinion of Sanchez. He’s either great or he’s a DH.
yogineely
Haha I was noticing that too
driftcat28 2
Ellsbury for Seager straight up?
WsuMojo
Ms have zero options at 3B if they dump him. At least Seager is near gold glove like and a possible bounce back at the plate. Hope the Ms don’t dump him for a useless salary dump player or eat practically his entire salary for a very low C prospect.
muskie73
Steamer projects Jacoby Ellsbury with a 2019 WAR of 0.0 in 24 games and Kyle Seager with a 2019 WAR of 2.6 in 149 games.
In the Seattle outfield complementing Mitch Haniger and Mallex Smith, Steamer projects Ben Gamel with a 2019 WAR of 1.1 in 130 games and Jay Bruce with a 2019 WAR of 0.5 in 119 games.
Why would the Mariners be interested in Jacoby Ellsbury?
wazzuhawk
Why? Seager can actually play in a game while Ellsbury is junk.
petrie000
Ellsbury isn’t junk
Junk looks at Jacoby ellsbury and thinks “well, I still have my health at least”
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
A professional athlete who doesn’t have his/her health isn’t an incredibly desirable (or useful) employee… Junk might look at Ellsbury and admire his salary…
sheff86
Idiots all know that he had shoulder surgery right here Cortizone shots all season right