Seattle Mariners: Kyle Seager is playing his way into trade-ability
In this unusual baseball season, the Seattle Mariners may be able to trade their most expensive player, Kyle Seager.
As a rebuilding team, the Seattle Mariners don’t have many veterans. Kyle Seager is a 32-year-old third baseman who has a .236 batting average and .740 OPS over the past three seasons who makes in the mid-eight figures. He’s a luxury they could do without.
The longest-tenured Seattle Mariners player is also the team’s most expensive. He’s due to make $18M in 2021, and the team has an option for $15M plus performance escalators for the 2022 season. It’s a good chunk of change for someone whose career has been in decline.
As much as M’s General Manager Jerry DiPoto would love to trade Seager’s contract, it’s an almost impossible task. Aside from his southward trend, he has a poison pill built into it. If the third baseman does get traded, the 2022 club option becomes a player option.
Deadline days
This season is like none other. It’s a two-month-long, 60-game sprint for one of eight playoff spots in each league. Many teams will be in contention at the July 31st trade deadline. That means there will be plenty of buyers and very few sellers when the time comes.
So far, Seager has made a good showing of himself. Going into Tuesday night’s contest, the Seattle Mariners’ third baseman was batting .313 with an American League-leading three doubles. Granted, his performance is from just a small four-game sample. However, the more help he can give DiPoto, the easier it will be for him to get traded onto a contender.
One trade rumor that always pops up about him is a reunion with his brother Corey in Los Angeles. The Dodgers still have Justin Turner at the hot corner, but the 35-year-old is in his contract year. Seager would be an ideal replacement. The money isn’t as big of an issue to a large market team like L.A.
Of course, Los Angeles wouldn’t be the only suitor; other clubs are “thin” at third. Additionally, injuries happen. If a contending team suffers an injury at the same position, Seager could be had at a reasonable price.
Seager is one of the Seattle Mariners’ most popular players. Fans would love it if he played his entire MLB career in the Pacific Northwest. The truth is, no matter how uncomfortable, Seager’s value to the M’s is it’s highest as a trade chip to land a good prospect or two.
Do you think Kyle Seager will finish the season in a Seattle Mariners uniform? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.