Writer Battle: Is Trevor Story a good fit for the Seattle Mariners? Both sides
Should the Seattle Mariners pursue one of the year’s biggest trade chips, Trevor Story? Our writers examine both sides of the “Story.”
What’s the story with Trevor Story? Is he available, and if he is, do the Seattle Mariners want him? PNWS writers Chris Phillips and Joe Swenson go head-to-head in our first-ever battle of the writers.
Chris Phillips: Trevor Story holds a special place in my heart. Should the Mariners consider trading for him? I don’t know what the package would be, but an infield of Kyle Seager, J.P. Crawford, Story, and Evan White. Tell me that doesn’t get you excited.
Joe Swenson: The cost for the soon-to-be free agent, Trevor Story, would definitely be steep. Especially for a team that has offensive weapons waiting in the wings. Also, is Seattle’s best defensive lineup to have Story at third base, or shortstop and move Crawford to second base, or have Story at 2nd base? We end up with some redundancy with Story.
Also, while Story has improved his strikeout rate so far this season, he’s been a 25 percent strikeout rate hitter every year of his career (except this year he’s at 22 percentage), including more than 165 times in his last three full seasons. The Mariners already swing and miss enough. Adding more strikeouts isn’t ideal.
Trade for Story
Chris: Would Story’s price be steep? That’s what everyone thought about Nolan Arenado, and look how that turned out. In the end, Colorado helped pay Nolan to leave.
The Irving, Texas native is a regular Gold Glove contender who HITS. His strikeouts are a concern, but when they come with 25+ home runs and 80+ RBI a year, I can live with his strikeouts.
Everyone overlooked Story, including his own team. The Rockies drafted him, but they also drafted Brendan Rogers to be Troy Tulowitzki‘s replacement. When he got his shot, Story won the starting shortstop job and kept it ever since. Rodgers doesn’t look so great in the bigs either, although it is a small sample size.
Colorado has already shown they don’t know what they’re doing, and their star talent can be had at an affordable price. Might a Seager and Trammell offer be all it takes to acquire Story? Or maybe Taylor Trammell, Juan Then, and Tom Murphy?
All in all, (Mariners General Manager Jerry) Dipoto should make a call and kick the proverbial tires on a Story acquisition. If for nothing else, this would be a Storybook ending for me. (Ok, I’ll show myself out, now).