Seattle Mariners: The perfect fit for Kyle Seager
Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners.
The Solution
Money
This is where things have to fall in place perfectly. First. Kyle Seager could agree to amend the “poison pill” in his contract. A decision that would normally get shot down by the MLBPA, so he doesn’t devalue his contract, which the union deems a poor policy. However voiding the clause could increase his earnings by getting him on a potential playoff roster.
This means Seager has to go to a team that is likely to make the postseason. In 2020 the playoffs have a greater financial incentive than other years, due to changes in the Collective bargaining Agreement and early season shutdown. The poison pill basically serves as a no-trade clause which Seager can enact if DiPoto makes a deal with a team the slugger doesn’t want to play for.
Preference
Upon finding a quality team to trade with, the new club has to be acceptable for Seager to waive his poison pill. Location will matter as he is a family man. Seager likes to have his kids around the game. He would also want to be closer to his family in the Charlottle, NC area. Washington and Atlanta are the two closest locations to his family home.
Need
Obviously the Seattle Mariners trade partner must have a need at third base. There is a chance a team would get him to DH, but his defensive ability at third makes him more valuable. Both Washington and Atlanta both have young players who are starting to develop at third in Carter Kieboom and Austin Riley respectively. A potental trade partner would also need to see a spot for Seager with their organization in 2021 as well. This further distances Atlanta and Washington.
In any deal the Seattle Mariners will have to retain at least $10M. Assuming the poison pill in 2022 is left as a team option, there is still about $8 million in 2021 that hasn’t been addressed as well as some money in 2020.
Seattle would likely increase the value of any prospect they receive in return, by eating more cash. But the key is getting a player back who can help the team in a year or two.