6:20pm: Heyman now tweets that talks between the Mariners and Orioles regarding Trumbo are “heating up.”
1:56pm: Baltimore has real interest in Trumbo, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports (Twitter links). The club expects Seattle will tender Trumbo a contract, suggesting that the O’s would need to strike a trade to get him.
1:38pm: Colorado is no longer in active talks with Seattle on Trumbo, MLB.com’s Thomas Harding reports, though he adds that it’s possible a “new and separate round of talks” could be initiated in the future and says the Rockies could have interest in Trumbo as a free agent if he’s non-tendered. The bottom line, it appears, is that Colorado won’t be taking him on in advance of the non-tender deadline.
12:29pm: The Orioles are also “in the mix” for Trumbo, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Presumably, he could fill some of the power void left by departing free agents Chris Davis and Steve Pearce, though of course Baltimore is still said to be pursuing a return with the former.
8:17am: The Mariners are “trying hard” to find a taker for veteran outfielder/first baseman/DH Mark Trumbo with tomorrow’s non-tender deadline looming, according to reports from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter) and Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune (Twitter link). It’s previously been reported that many rival executives expect Trumbo to be dealt. The Rockies are among the clubs that have spoken with Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto about the slugger, per Rosenthal.
Trumbo, who’ll turn 30 before the season, is projected by MLBTR to take home a $9.1MM salary in his final season of arbitration eligibility. Though he’s generally continued to produce at better than the league-average rate on offense, and remains a significant power threat in particular, the right-handed hitter has not quite matched his early-career batting levels.
Considering his significant defensive limitations and hefty earning power, Trumbo’s trade value would not appear to be peaking at the moment. (That moment probably came when then-Angels GM Dipoto acquired promising young lefties Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago in exchange for Trumbo before the start of the 2014 season.) Trumbo has never cracked three wins above replacement in his career, whether by measure of Fangraphs or Baseball-Reference, and ended up as about a one to one-and-a-half win player last season.
Of course, teams may still be willing to roll the dice on Trumbo cranking his power output back up over a one-year commitment. He averaged over thirty home runs annually from 2011 through 2013, after all, which represents a fairly rare demonstration of playable pop. While he is roundly considered a sub-par defender in the corner outfield, his ability to play there at least increases his versatility. And Trumbo has rated rather well as a first baseman over the years.
Presumably, the Rockies would be interested in utilizing Trumbo at first. The club recently parted ways with incumbent Justin Morneau and designated another potential option in Wilin Rosario. Adding a veteran right-handed bat would allow Colorado to utilize the lefty-swinging Ben Paulsen in a reserve capacity.
The non-tender deadline represents an important market in any trade talks, if only because the Mariners may be unwilling to commit to paying Trumbo if a trade isn’t arranged. Of course, if interest is strong enough, Seattle could always strike a bargain after tendering him an arb contract. In the worst case, of course, clubs can cut bait on tendered players whil remaining responsible only for one-sixth of their salary, but that’s obviously not the preferred outcome — especially when that would represent such a significant sum.
It’s worth noting, also, that several other major power sources could be available. The Astros’ Chris Carter and Evan Gattis might be trade candidates, and we’ve heard every indication that the Pirates have interest in moving lefty slugger Pedro Alvarez. All of those players project to earn less than Trumbo, though Alvarez isn’t far behind at $8.1MM.
CJ Wilson straight up for Trumbo
There would have to be a lot of money coming to the Mariners in that deal. Wilson earns twice as much, and I have a feeling the Mariners want to dump salary too.
Wilson makes $20M next year, but it appears the Mariners are trying to shed his money rather than take on another bad contract.
Trumbo has slightly negative trade value. Only way you move guys with negative trade value is to take another negative one back. Here’s a proposal. Brewers give Mariners $16 million and Matt Garza for Trumbo.
Nobody’s taking Garza. And if trumbo really had ‘negative trade value” Seattle would just non -tender him. But they will tender him because he has some value to other teams — and even if they tender him and can’t find a trade partner by ST they can cut him and just pay him 1/6 of salary
They don’t want to dump salary on the whole as their payroll will increase from last year, they just want to dump Trumbo cause he’s not worth $9 mil and doesn’t fit into Dipoto’s model
Maybe the Rays should go after Trumbo. Building for the future is nice and all, but the Rays could actually compete this year if they got some offense, and while Trumbo isn’t great, he would be an improvement for the Rays offense. I’d prefer Pedro Alvarez, especially since he’s cheaper anyways, but Trumbo could probably be had without giving up any significant prospects.
i’d think alvarez can also be had without giving up any significant prospects, if he’s getting talked about in the potential non-tender posts. figure if you take his whole salary you can probably have him for the traditional token live arm in A-ball
Braves would trade Nick Markakis for Mark Trumbo and Luis Sardinas.
No they wouldn’t. First base is like the only position the Braves have someone.
the way the braves are operating lately, they might trade markakis for trumbo and sardinas and then non-tender trumbo
Pirates might be interested if you throw in some cash.
Alvarez for Trumbo
It’s fairly obvious that the mariners (correclty in my opinion) do not feel Trumbo is worth the 9.1 million bucks required to have his services. Buyer Beware.
I would say Trumbo more doesn’t fit into the Mariners’ new style with the new management and their current roster, not necessarily that he doesn’t have value. There are definitely teams that he would still be a great fit on (like the Rockies)
Cardinals are looking for power at 1st. Moss of Trumbo straight up? We all saw what Moss did in Oakland and will get plenty of playing time in that park.
Trumbo and Moss are essentially same players except Moss is a better fielder and makes less money. That’s an awful trade idea and Mozeliak would never do it.
Mark Trumbo has a UZR/150 of 6.3 in 3,009 career innings at first base and a negative 8.5 in 2,021 career innings in the outfield.
Brandon Moss has a career UZR/150 of a negative 9.2 in 2,047 career innings at first base and 3.1 in 3,236 career innings in the outfield.
Trumbo has posted 6.1 fWAR in 690 career games, including an fWAR of 1.1 this year. Moss, who is more than two years older than Trumbo, has posted 7.8 fWAR in 770 career games, including an fWAR of 0.6 this year.
MLB Trade Rumors projects 2016 arbitration salaries of $9.1 million for Trumbo and $7.9 million for Moss, each in his third and final potential trip through arbitration.
Are you forgetting who Mozeliak traded to get Moss in the first place?
Moss doesnt have the power that Trumbo has.. nowhere close to the same player
Umm… Yeah he does? Ever since 2012, Moss has had 115 homeruns which is one of the most in that span averaging 28-29 homeruns per season.
Oh yeah don’t forget Mark Trumbo has had 102 homers ever since 2012 averaging 25-26 homeruns per season. :-/
Trumbo has next to no trade value, the Mariners would have to throw in one of their top 10 prospects to get that $9M off their books. He’s had a 6.1 career fWAR over 5 seasons and steamer has him at 1.1 next year. There’s so many min wage guys at AAA who could do that.
or they could just non tender him and never have the $9m put on the books. I think this is just them trying to get something , anything, instead of just letting him go.
Oh of course, right.
If Dipoto can pull that off, my hats off to him.
I don’t know about top 10, its not like Trumbo is signed long term, it’s just a one year arbitration salary. It is expensive and I agree there are guys at AAA who can put up similar WAR but the benefit (and honestly the only real benefit compared to the multiple cons) is that he has very good pop. For a team like the Rockies where Trumbo’s power would get to play in Coors often, a Trumbo for a low level minor leaguer (essentially selling low on what value Trumbo does have) could be enough.
Trumbo’s career OPS at Coors Field is 1.300. If the Rockies can get him for a non-return, that’s a steal.
Implying that WAR is a useful stat.
Mark Trumbo has roughly neutral value because this year 1.1 fWAR was worth about $8.7 million.
The Mariners could tender a contract to Trumbo then trade him with cash (giving Trumbo surplus value) for a player with similar surplus value
The $9 million isn’t on their ‘books’ — even if they tender him a contract they can still cut him in spring training and only pay him 1/6 of his salary. You’re off base here
Why would a team like the A’s who severely lack offense not go after a guy like this? The salary is high but we pay more for Coco Crisp to play a couple of weeks of the season
Inter-division trades are pretty rare. And trumbo is too expensive for the A’s.
The As do not care about trades in division, and I don’t really think Dipoto cares much either. The only trade partner out there is probably the Rox assuming no money is exchanged.
They aren’t all that rare for players who don’t have much value though
Defensive and contact problems aside, trumbos bat in Colorado is a scary thought.
There could be big trade with car go in it
I’d say a deal like trumbo and karns or elias for blackmon would make a lot more sense
M’s outfield is pretty well set, isn’t it?
not really. smith/gutierrez timeshare in LF, leonys in CF, they want one more guy for RF to push nelson to DH at least most of the time
*after reviewing blackmons improving stats, I’d say the ms would need to put in a prospect or two
If he goes to the o’s, m’s should try and pry a reliever, brach or matuez. If he goes to rockies, m’s should make a package to try and pry away charlie blackmon !!!!!!! Yeiiiahhh
no more coffee for you
They can have Ryan Howard and $16 mil for Trumbo.
Would love to have Trumbo to join the Oriole Flock!
His defense is ehh, But he could be stuck in RF and move Calhoun to LF, but who would the Angels give up
Cmon Padres
Only if it’s for Yonder straight up.
Trumbo doesn’t help the O’s, he doesn’t help the Rockies, just one of those types of players. O’s need to blow up the team
Trumbo’s low on base percentage and defensive issues make him only viable as a 1st baseman or DH. No way the Mariners pay him 9.1 million to play part time. If they can’t trade him before tomorrow they will certainly non tender him! How many game winning rbi’s does Trumbo actually have since the Angels traded him? Not enough to pay him 9.1 million next season!
With Pujols and Cron sharing 1st/Dh the Angels don’t have a spot for Trumbo. Calhoun just won a gold glove so no way you move him and put Trumbo out there! Defense and pitching win games so Trumbo has ZERO value as an outfielder!
Qucik question guys, if player A has 0 WAR, that means that player “A” is league average? And let’s say player “B” has 1 war, player B is slightly above average? I’m a little confuse since I though a 1 WAR player was below average.
0 is replacement level, not an average player. For more, see this from Fangraphs (fangraphs.com/library/misc/war/):
League-average WAR rates vary. An average full-time position player is worth about 2 WAR, while average bench players contribute much less (typically between 0 and 1 WAR). Average starting pitchers also are worth around 2 WAR, while relief pitchers are considered superb if they crack +1 WAR.
For position players and starting pitchers, here is a good rule-of-thumb chart:
Scrub 0-1 WAR
Role Player 1-2 WAR
Solid Starter 2-3 WAR
Good Player 3-4 WAR
All-Star 4-5 WAR
Superstar 5-6 WAR
MVP 6+ WAR
Thank you!!!
Yeah zero war means overall you are an average player
Why would anyone trade for Trumbo before the non tender deadline? If he becomes a free agent you can then negociate your own deal with him and not have to give up anyone! If you trade for him you lose prospects and have to pay him 9.1 million…
The Mariners can tender him a contract, that way he does not become a free agent
Cubs should take a look in on him…make a deal around Baez
That just sounds stupid to me with Rizzo at 1st.
Have him for LF and Bach up 1B
you could see a deal with the orioles. Trumbo is a lot cheaper power than Davis. Obviously, not nearly of the same quality, but at a tiny fraction of the price
Now that been confirm that Mariners are try to trade trumbo . I still keep saying my trades between Braves and mariners make since
Braves trade Freeman ,Tehran swisher marksberry grilli bethancourt Aybar and 25 million for Walker d.j Peterson Jackson marlette Wilson hultzen zunino trumbo and com pic . Help both teams and money is close to the same . Then Braves could turn trade miller , zunino,Wilson mckirhan and vizcaino trumbo and 8 million pirates for Alvarez meadows Taillon McGuire Locke ,Morton tucker morse and com pic and then trade markakis Alivarez Sp perez Krol and cunniff and Locke or Morton to O’s for Matusaz Harvey Walker Yastrzemski and com pic . Last trade minor hursh terdoslvich and Jackson to Indians for Frazier Sheffield and com pic and Braves sign oflaherty clippard beckham Byrd detweiler Jackson frenchy Byrd Kelly Johnson Lincecum Latos Oliver Perez or thorton ,moylan take flyer on lee and andre jones maybe sign Reynolds or uribe and Either give ss to Castro or sign Alexei Ramirez and salti.most of deals are one year deal and fact that nats have so many free agent and problems and met off was ok at best and I give it time before martz syndergaard and Degrom have to have Tj surgery like wheeler and Harvey have and Marlins are the Marlins and well phils I respect them but there worse off then Braves . So if coop and hart can make these trade and sign some these free agent I think there still chance we could turn this around 16 and give the brave bright future . Think
2016
Sp
Wisler
Walker
Lincecum
Locke
Either Norris or Latos
Bp
Latos ,Norris or
Jackson
Matusuz
Oflathery
Perez or thorton
Carpenter
Set up clippard
And
Closer
Folty.
And line up
Of
Cf smith
2b Peterson/ Oliver’s
1b morse
3b Johnson / uribe
C piezyniski / salti
Lf Byrd
Rf frenchy
Ss Castro or Ramirez
And bench
Salti
Johnson
Beckham
Reynolds
And
Bourne
And bad team
And 2018 team
Sp
Walker
Taillon or Jenkins
Allard
Toussaint
Draft punk
Bp
Sims
Newcomb
Soroka
Johnson- Mullins
Weigel
Harvey
Simmons
Line up
Cf smith
2b dykstra
1b Walker
Rf meadows
Lf Frazier
3b Riley
C Reese or Herbert
Ss albies
And bench of
Herbert
Peterson
Castro
Olivia
Davidson
Peterson
That not bad future team go Braves
No
The mariners arent getting as much as they are giving up, we don’t need aybar or swisher and we don’t need the contract of freeman. Peterson and Jackson are why too young to give up on now and so is zunino.
what did i just read.
9/10 best comment would read again.
He will go to Baltimore with Carter to Cardinals and Moran,Harvey and so on to Mariners and to Astros Cruz,Pham,a prospect from Mariners and so on.
no way the braves put marksberry in that deal
What happened to formatting?
I don’t like this for the O’s. Means whatever pipe dream they had about resigning Davis is finished. He isn’t a good enough replacement. When Davis gets hot, he can carry the team. The same can’t be said for Trumbo.
Matusz for Trumbo. Both will be overpaid in arb but Trumbo allows the Os to move on from Davis and spend money on ODay, Span and hopefully a starting pitcher. Ms get a useful bullpen arm even though he’ll be overpriced between 3 and 5 million