The Braves have “explored” a trade for Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, but the two teams aren’t progressing toward a deal at this point, per Jon Morosi of MLB.com.
As a 32-year-old who’s on a prorated $19MM salary this season and is due another $18MM in 2021, Seager comes off as a logical trade candidate for a retooling Mariners team. But both the value of his contract and a $15MM club option for 2022 complicate matters. If Seager’s traded, he’ll be able to make a decision on whether to exercise that option, and it seems quite likely he’d so then.
To Seager’s credit, he has long been a quality starter at the hot corner for the Mariners. His production fell flat in 2018, but he rebounded last season and has continued to perform well this year. So far, Seager has accrued 147 plate appearances and batted .272/.347/.472 with five home runs and almost as many walks (15) as strikeouts (19).
The production Seager has posted this year and throughout his career would perhaps be welcome in Atlanta, whose third basemen, Austin Riley and Johan Camargo, have recorded below-average numbers in 2020. But Riley has been hot of late, and that could make acquiring another third baseman – especially an expensive one – less of a priority for the NL East-leading Braves.
I think much of us will appreciate if you only post when a deal is about to go through (or actually does)
Camargo, is this you?
I don’t understand the Braves.
Did you forget what the name of this site is? And if you’re not interested in the topic, don’t read the article.
Right, it’s a rumor site. We literally want all things baseball but fact and rumor in nature. Move along lol
I appreciate them posting this article. If they post anything on the Spankees I ignore it unless it involves a player I like or a team. You don’t need to read every article your choice
I appreciate these rumblings. It’s a rumor site after all…
Feel free to go start your own site that only posts when deals are 100% completed.
I wonder who “much of us” is? Don’t think this guy frequents the site to much because he would see that the trade rumor articles, as the name of the site states, is the primary purpose of MLBTR and also by far the most popular even before a trade is confirmed.
@Raysup I don’t think this site is for you. Especially when you can’t figure out what this site does from it’s title.
I like to see what may and may not happen. This misinformation and disinformation is a part of this process that’s always fascinated me.
yeah why does a site called “TRADE RUMORS” doesn’t only post official trades…
I appreciate the fact that Morosi confirms what a lot of us have been thinking- there’s def a fit between ATL and Corey’s brother. As much as I can see Seager thriving in that lineup and enjoying being closer to his home I’m an Ms fans from the ‘please don’t trade him camp.’ It’s the main reason I appreciate this article!
Wouldn’t mind seeing the Blue Jays get him if Seattle is willing to eat some money. Travis Shaw hasn’t been great.
The Braves can have Andujar for third base if they want.
Seager and cash over the next two seasons for Shaw straight up? Might as well find out about Marco G.
Doubtful Mariners make that trade and Gonzales will cost a decent haul.
The Seattle Mariners aren’t trading a top third baseman for 30-year–old Travis Shaw and his negative WAR.
Kyle Seager has posted 3.8 fWAR, valued at $30.1 million, in 142 games since the start of the 2019 season.
Seager has posted 17.8 fWAR, valued at $142.4 million, nearing the end of the sixth season of the seven-year, $100 million extension signed in December 2014. However, the 2022 option is complicated.
Muskie – if you aren’t shedding the contract of Kyle Seager and running the risk of keeping him through the duration of his contract rather then I’d say you’re out of your mind.
Negative WAR aside, which isn’t really the Mariners problem, it’s the salary. Nobody wants to take on the salary of Seager. Enter Toronto. This is the penalty. Plus the option kicks in automatically if traded. Another whammy. Yeah, Mariners have very little leverage here.
I’m not sure you understand the Seager contract. If the Mariners keep him, they’re only on the hook for about 20 million in 2021 and then they’re done. So, I think the Mariners would be perfectly fine keeping Seagers salary, which given his production is not an over pay at all.
The Mariners assume the “risk” of keeping a third baseman who has posted 3.8 fWAR, valued at $30.1 million, in 142 games since the start of the 2019 season. Despite a down 2018 season Kyle Seager has so far outperformed his seven-year, $100 millon contract.
Seager is more attractive to the Mariners than to other teams because of the player option for 2022. Seattle is under no pressure to further pare down payroll.
Braves won’t spend money. The truth is there Hamels was all he could spend and it’s going to cost him his job. Snitker and AA SHOULD BE RAN OUT OF TOWN.
Soooo the game plan now is just to try and score 12 runs every game…solid game plan i guess, I like it lol
Worked last night.
True… our boy Ian Anderson does state a fact … lol
AA:..ehhh we can’t land any pitchers so screw it and let’s get more bats…lol
We’ll take Riley for him!
If the Braves traded lesser prospects for Seager, then Riley becomes a good trade chip.
Great, Riley’s finally found some consistency after getting regular starting time at 3B and we sell him only to continue praying Camargo looks like/plays like he cares.
Idk man. I don’t like trading Riley. I think his value is low at the moment. He’s kinda at a point where you ride him out. If he fails he fails with us. I just don’t think his return would gather what his potential can be, therefore I’d rather ride the Riley roller coaster and fail than anything else.
Riley is taking up a notch lately. Ultimately I still think he’s our future at 3rd but I like Seagar a lot. I’m just not sure I’d pull the trigger on him this year at his age if we don’t grab us a couple pitchers that can hold down the fort. Seagar makes us better, I ultimately agree with that. Just might be too expensive to get if we aren’t committed to improving pitching… if that makes sense
I would imagine they were in talks to see if the Mariners would eat a bunch of his salary to try and get Marco in the deal as well
You got it! The real prize isn’t named in the article. With Walker gone, the real prize is Gonzales.
Marco is the M’s ace now and in the future. There is absolutely no reason to trade him away. Not even trade happy Dipoto is that stupid.
How well did that work with Haniger?
Mitch Haniger, a 2018 All Star, is Seattle’s forgotten outfielder with two more years of team control.
Complementing Rookie of the Year candidate Kyle Lewis are Seattle outfield prospects Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, Baseball Prospectus’ seventh- and 10th-ranked prospects overall, and newly acquired outfielder Taylor Trammell, whom BP ranked 11th before the 2019 season.
The future is bright for the Mariner outfield.
I think Run’s point is that they hung on to Haniger after he had a breakout season at age 26, when they should have traded him at a clear high water mark on his value. He is doing them no good now and his value is limited in trade as he is just slightly above league average.
Braves should have done the same with Camargo. Anyone following his minor league progression knew his half season outburst was not sustainable and his value was at a high point. At least with Camargo he was only 24 so there was some hope.
RunDMC – You can’t predict a baseball to the nuts…
Gonzalez is 28 years old and his best full season is a 3.99 ERA You trade him NOW while he is worth something in this shortened season with so many teams looking for pitching.
Yeah, I get it, he might put in a few good SP3-4 years, but is that really what Seattle needs?
The unusual Mitch Haniger injuries could not be anticipated.
Yes. This makes a lot of sense. I’ve been saying this for weeks! I’m all for this, but Braves still need to go grab another pitcher before the day is over
Id think Sea would eat a good bit of money to enhance the package… Then again Atl might just want to eat all the contract and give a minimal return allah Mark Melancoln
Either way this would be the last straw Dipoto would have to shed for Sea from the old guard –
Sea has done a sneaky good job in the last 2 years with the rebuild and can put a bow on it today if they can deal Seager
People act like DiPoto is just going to give away controllable talent for crap parts. Braves twitter been proposing Gonzales & Seager for a bunch of crap you players hitting sub .200 and pitchers with ERA in the double digits. Last week it was Walker, Seager, Gonzales& cash for Riley, Camargo, Inciarte, Bryse Wilson, & Touki Touissant. One solid prospect for three proven productive players and millions of dollar.
Marco is controllable throughly 2024. And Seager doesn’t need to be dealt. He’s a productive player/clubhouse leader and staple for the Ms. DiPoto isn’t desperate to deal him, and my guess is he won’t unless his price is met.
Totally agree Marco isnt moving at all-
I think they capitalize on Seagers optimal value now and keep that money stocked for a Big 2022 fa class –
Hes not going to be part of the next wave and 2 months ago it would have been crazy to think you could move Seager for a bag of balls. Id move him today –
I think Dipoto has done a magnificient job since the beginning of last year starting with the unloading of Paxton – I think they clear it all out for 2021, see what they got, then re enter the 2022 FA class Big with a pristine clear ledger and all young talent on the roster
Makes sense with Ty France in Seattle now. Noelvi Marte is also waiting in the wings.
Ehh, Noelvi won’t be up until 2023 if everything goes right. But giving France everyday ABs at third makes sense.
Marte could be there in 2022. Reports are he is advanced for his age and expected development level at the alternate site.
So if you’re an aggressive GM on a poorly performing team that has a lot of money (DET, BALT), you acquire Seager with some prospects from Seattle (they have them), then flip him to Atlanta , with money, to get some more prospects (they have them). You can stock a farm system that way.
Of course you have to dress it up to look like a 3 corner deal (SEA adds two guys named Harry, your team adds two guys name Fred), but it’s a way to speed up a team’s arc.
Realistically let’s say the Mariners picked 10 mil of next years deal, what level of prospect would that even equate to? Just trying to get a sense of how people view Kyle
Well, a few years ago we essentially paid $9.5M to get former 1st rd pick: Touki Touissaint by taking Bronson Arroyo’s remaining money and ARZ got back Phil Gosselin — NOT the father in “Jon & Kate Plus 8”.
It could be like last year though, when we took on $14M of Mark Melancon’s deal and gave up upside prospects: Tristan Beck and project RP Dan Winkler.
The Mariner’s would love to trade Seager but they are not going to just give him away. Adding Gonzales would drive the price higher. Bot are controllable for the next couple of years. I wonder if the Braves would step up for that.
So they have 2 competent SP at the moment and a young 3B that they let Donaldson walk for, and they’re exploring a trade for an expensive 3B?!
Sure, makes complete and total sense. Got it. SMH
LOL. Exactly.
Braves might be trying to drive up the cost for others, but I see no reason for them even entertaining a move for Seager at this point. Two years ago, possibly, but not now.
Donaldson has hit .182 in the 7 games he’s been able to play this year. Not a loss.
no.
just no.
Riley will be good and might be better than good in a year or 2. He is cheap (for now). I’d spend the money on another starting pitcher and see how Riley develops at 3b
Time to dumpster dive again……..
That’s all the Braves will ever be till you get a new owner.
So glad we kept Seager. Dumping his salary was and never has been an issue. He’s the cornerstone of our organization and still a really good player and will be when we are competitive again. The Braves organization does NOT understand how to negotiate for big time players. Teams won’t just take you’re crap players for better pieces. They value they’re prospects too highly.