Seattle Mariners: Trade Dividing the Fan Base
Chris Phillips
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No Longer Trash Cans
On the surface, Smith looks like a terrible get. However, looking under the top sheet, we see Smith has a career 3.11 ERA, 3.58 FIP, and 1.18 WHIP. This is a player that is currently having a bad year. If the Seattle Mariners can fix Smith, he’ll be another late-inning weapon.
Toro is the big get for the M’s. He’s a young player with only 275 total major league at-bats. The results don’t look good. However, young players need time to develop. He’s listed as a third baseman but has some time at both second and first base. Even a rumor that if Carlos Correa leaves Houston, Toro will be their starter at third base. Moving Alex Bregman to shortstop. We’ll get into what Toro’s acquisition might mean for other M’s players a bit later.
Kyle Seager’s Future Set?
Talk about waiting for the tease—lots of debate amongst fans on what the Seattle Mariners will or should do with Kyle Seager. The team has an option on Seager’s contract at the end of the year. It’s a $15 million option. Since Ty France was acquired, the speculation is that he’d be starting the third baseman in 2022.
However, France has played very well at first base, and now with the addition of Toro, there may be real competition for the starting spot between the two. It appears that the team has made its decision on Seager’s future. Or has it? Again, the club needs a second baseman. France and Toro can both play there. So, maybe Seager is back next year. This trade gives Dipoto some flexibility.