The latest from Seattle…
- Though Jarred Kelenic, Taylor Trammell, and Julio Rodriguez are expected to be part of the Mariners’ outfield of the future, Mitch Haniger is still a part of the team’s present. Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times looks at Haniger and the broader outfield plan as a whole, noting that Haniger is expected to be ready to participate in Spring Training. It has been a brutal 15 months for Haniger, who hasn’t played since June 2019 due to a ruptured testicle, a torn abductor muscle, and then a herniated disc. It remains to be seen if Haniger can recapture his 2018 All-Star form when he does get back onto the field, though if he plays well and stays healthy, Divish figures Haniger might still hold some trade value, considering that he is under arbitration control through the 2022 season. Since Trammell and Rodriguez aren’t likely to be in the majors until at least 2022, there is also a case for the M’s to keep Haniger, especially if he remains a productive player and if the Mariners start to become regular contenders.
- The Mariners’ 2018-19 offseason was marked by several major trades, including a notable deal that saw Seattle land J.P. Crawford and (the soon-to-be-flipped) Carlos Santana from the Phillies in exchange for Jean Segura, James Pazos, and Juan Nicasio. However, an earlier incarnation of that deal would have seen Segura and Edwin Diaz head to Philly, while Sixto Sanchez would have been part of the trade package coming back to the Mariners, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. It makes for an interesting what-if for Seattle fans, as moving Diaz in that trade would have altered several other future deals, most obviously the blockbuster swap with the Mets that brought Kelenic and Justin Dunn into the organization and sent Diaz and Robinson Cano to New York. Rosenthal adds another interesting detail in noting that the Mariners kept trying to acquire Sanchez even after he had been dealt to the Marlins as part of the J.T. Realmuto trade with the Phils in February 2019. Needless to say, it doesn’t seem like Sanchez is going anywhere for a long time considering how impressive the young righty has looked in his first Major League season.
hmm, interesting. i think what the plus would have been in the Diaz deal would have factored heavily into what i would have thought off that trade. I like Realmuto, but might be partial to Alfaro/Diaz
The truth be told, I am definitely partial to Alfaro/Sanchez. When Pedro Martinez labels a young pitcher “Mini-Me”, you really don’t want to lose that mojo.
Mariners should’ve traded Haniger while his value was high. It’s not like anybody thought the team was going to do anything.
Revisionist history
I am glad that the Mariners got Kelenic and Dunn instead of Sanchez. Sanchez should be very good, but the Mariners future rotation consisting of some combo of Hancock, Gilbert, Gonzales, Kirby, Sheffield, Dunn, Williamson, and Campbell should be well above average. That future OF mix could become a top 3 in all if baseball, with some combo of Kelenic, Lewis, Rodriguez, Haniger, Trammell.
Either way, the return would have been great, but I prefer their current scenario.
Good non-trade for the Mariners from the perspective of not having Diaz to package with Cano as well.
Sanchez has been very good so far, but I think I’d rather have Kelenic, etc. and no Cano than Sanchez and many more years committed to old Robbie.
Sixto is nice but we got Kelenic I’m good!
I was thinking about something like this just last night. What if Jose Fernandez never… died… Because the entire trading of Marlins started after that incident, so would that group be together today? Would Fernandez have been traded to the Dodgers? If so, would Darvish have been traded to L.A? Would the Marlins be the young team they are today? Would they have a Tatis or Lux to flaunt as a top prospect? Would Chris Sale be a Red Sox? Just the immense possibilities of him still being in the game today would be amazing. RIP
I do the same thing with Oscar Tavares on the Cardinals. He was supposed to be the RF of the future. His death lead to the Heyward trade and the Ozuna trade.
I love good baseball butterfly effects. Every decision has potential generational consequences.
Kyle Lewis should also be in the mix in the future Seattle outfield.
Yeah it’s pretty funny and interesting they didn’t even mention the probably runner up for the ROY
I think Kyle Lewis is definitely ROY. Robert’s numbers don’t stack up
The same offseason the Seattle Mariners acquired lefthander Justus Sheffield, who in his rookie season this year has posted 1.4 fWAR (and 3.09 FIP) in nine starts while rookie Sixto Sanchez has posted 0.9 fWAR (and 3.30 FIP) in six starts.
With Seattle prospect righthanders Emerson Hancock, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby ranked No, 31, No,. 36 and No, 100 at MLB Pipeline, the Mariners don’t miss the talented Sixto much.