Seattle Mariners: Top six trade partners for Kyle Seager
Atlanta Braves
Hotlanta is loaded with young talent. Adding Seager to their team helps the Braves offensively, defensively and adds another veteran voice in the locker room. Also, their farm system is loaded with young pitchers. A team could never have enough or too much pitching. Depending on the amount of money the Mariners would kick in will be the biggest factor in determining the return.
Chicago Cubs
I wrote about Seager to the Cubs deal at the August trade deadline. I was obviously wrong about it happening then, but I still think it could happen. With some tweaking of the pieces included, the deal can work for both sides. Plus, if the Seattle Mariners make a shrewd free agent move or two, it could work out very well for them.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds are included here because they, too, may be targeting a rebuild. It’s possible Cincy needs to shed some payroll after the financial losses the league took. They’ve let it be known in their trade talks that both Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo are available.
Again, without getting an idea of their plans, it’s difficult to know Cincinnati’s future. Thus making it challenging as to who is and isn’t available. In this scenario, Seattle can absorb more payroll than they send out and get some quality arms in the process.
Los Angeles Dodgers
This is the feel-good scenario of a Seager brothers reunion. I don’t see it happening because not everyone gets a happy ending. But should it happen, the Dodgers still have a really good farm system and some good MLB pieces. A few of L.A’s prospects that work as a return are Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz. As for big leaguers, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, or David Price.
I don’t think Seager for any of the prospects straight up would happen. Even though they haven’t resigned Justin Turner, there are other internal options for them. What could happen is a bit of a big-money contract swap. Dodgers get Seager’s full contract plus some of Price’s. The M’s get Price and a prospect that is still years away, say Michael Busch.
The Dodgers have the money to absorb the finances to make this happy ending story come true.
In the end, if the M’s can obtain a return of either some good middle relievers or a couple of mid-level prospects, or even one high rated prospect, for Kyle Seager, I would consider the trade to be a success and worth doing. It’s sad to say, but Seager won’t be here when the Seattle Mariners bring a World Series trophy home in 2022.