The Mariners swung an early trade this month, acquiring outfielder Teoscar Hernandez from the Blue Jays, but they may not be done adding outfielders. According to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, the team has checked in on top outfield free agents Andrew Benintendi and Brandon Nimmo. It comes after president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto told reporters he was open to bringing in another outfielder.
Seattle currently has Julio Rodriguez and Hernandez locked into center and right field respectively, but left field could be open. Jesse Winker has played poor defense in left and struggled at the plate last season, and there’s been some reports that the Mariners could be open to moving him. Jarred Kelenic and Taylor Trammell have both struggled in the big leagues, but they’re also former top prospects who are young enough to turn things around. Yet it’s clear this Mariners team is in win-now mode, so wouldn’t be surprising to see them pursue upgrades.
Nimmo seems less likely than Benintendi. Outside of Aaron Judge, he’s the clear top outfield free agent after an outstanding platform year that saw him post a 134 wRC+ and amass 5.4 fWAR. MLBTR predicted him to earn a five-year, $110MM deal this winter. With Rodriguez entrenched in center, Seattle could theoretically shift Nimmo to left, but there’s a lack of quality center field options available in free agency and a number of teams who need upgrades there. Given the price tag attached and the level of interest across the league, it seems unlikely Seattle would win a bidding war against teams operating with a bit more urgency at the position.
Benintendi doesn’t possess the upside of Nimmo, but still represents a quality option. His strong contact approach could make him a strong fit to leadoff ahead of Rodriguez, Hernandez, Eugenio Suarez and the other Seattle power hitters. Between the Royals and Yankees in 2022, he posted a .304/.373/.399 line with five home runs while providing solid defense in left. He’d also come a lot cheaper than Nimmo, as MLBTR predicted him to land a four-year, $54MM contract.
While Benintendi and Nimmo are the two reported names, a number of other options would also make sense, including a reunion with Mitch Haniger, Michael Conforto or Cody Bellinger, not to mention a host of trade possibilities. Any addition could see Kelenic and Trammell floated in trade discussions. They’d be selling low on both, but teams would surely be interested in acquiring either to try and tap into the potential that made them both top outfield prospects in all of baseball.
You won’t find Nimmo with the fish in April
Ben Nintendo signing with Mariners definitely makes some sense. And isn’t Nimmo from somewhere near Seattle?
Wyoming i believe
I think you are thinking about Michael Conforto, who is from the Seattle area. Brandon Nimmo is from Wyoming.
Many east coasters think Wyoming is near Washington for some reason.
In their defense, it’s a lot closer than Queens, New York.
Best book series ever.
It’s not *that* far. I’ve driven from Seattle to Cody, WY in a single day. Left around 6 AM, got there around 10 PM.
@baseballislife: read the shadow series if you haven’t. It’s excellent as well.
Yawn…neither are game changers…
I think though, Curly, the only thing that’s kept Nimmo from being what you’d call a game-changer has been his health. He’s been outstanding when healthy.
While I would certainly not mind adding Benintendi, I don’t think he addresses the offensive needs of the Mariners quite enough. There were many, many games where they had men on base, they just didn’t have enough slugging to get those guys in. So adding another contact guy seems like it would only add to the problem instead of helping to solve it.
But then again, maybe that is what the Mariners need. Maybe they need Benintendi to come in and show all of the hitters that hitting a 1-2 run single or double is better than swinging for the fences and popping up.
Personally, I am still hoping for a deal with Haniger that protects the Mariners from injuries, but rewards Haniger based on games played and performance. He fits so well with the clubhouse, his work ethic is a great example for the younger kids, and he has the offense to really help, assuming he stays healthy.
I can’t see the M’s adding another RH bat into this lineup. But, I hope I’m wrong. I do as well hope we can bring Mitch home.
There is a valid point that the Mariners are heavy on righties. Ty France, Eugenio Suarez, Teoscar Hernandez, and Julio Rodriguez are all righties. The person who currently makes most sense as the primary 2B (I seriously hope they find a better option than Dylan Moore) is a righty and Mitch is also a righty. Just in case, I also checked and the big 4 SS are all righties, as well.
Just to try to help track my thought process, the positions as currently make the most sense:
C – Cal Raleigh (switch)
1B – Ty France (right)
2B – Dylan Moore (right)
SS – JP Crawford (left)
3B – Eugenio Suarez (right)
LF – Jarred Kelenic/Taylor Trammell (left/left)
CF – Julio Rodriguez (right)
RF – Teoscar Hernandez (right)
DH – I dunno, Abraham Toro? (right) Jesse Winker? (left)
If the Mariners pony up for one of the 4 big SS, and JP slides over to 2B, you still have one righty and one lefty in the middle infield. That leaves the infield pretty righty heavy. If the Mariners bring back Mitch Haniger, that leaves the outfield all righties. So maybe Mitch Haniger isn’t the best fit from that standpoint. But I love his work ethic, his presence in the clubhouse, and the influence he has on the younger guys.
Kolton Wong would help that problem and I think the Brewers would have some interest in making a trade.
There are so many options for Dipoto and Hollander at this stage of the silly season! The players agents are drumming up the highest bids for their clients while the GM’s are sitting at the table protecting their hand in this offseason game of poker.
I can see a combination of at least two more players that will improve this team, at LEAST one more impact type bat like a Teo Hernandez. If we are to close the gap to HOU I think we’ll need a Bogaerts or Turner. Maybe sprinkle in a 2 yr deal with Haniger?
An offseason addition of Teo, Bogaerts, Haniger with Kelenic and Trammell sharing the 4th OFers role- that will bring this team into the race for the AL West. That Mariners Starting rotation? Gilbert and Kirby improving on 2 great years? A full year of Luis Castillo? Ah yes! Remember….Verlander could’ve played his last game in HOU. My god I hope so…. it’s time to shift the balance of power Seattle
There’s a very good chance tbey land another RHH. Most of the top available middle infield optons are RHHs.
Highly unlikely they don’t also add a LHH, though.
I’m not a Mariners fan, but looking at their lineup so far, it basically looks like they’ve swapped Haniger out for T.Hernandez.
So, then if they add a Nimmo or a Benintendi, one of those two would ideally replace one of their outfielders that struggled last season.
Also, by adding depth to their lineup, it could very well allow the Mariners to use guys like Winker in more favorable match-ups, which would greatly benefit them as well..
Overall, I’d consider the effect adding another OF would have on the team and on the lineup as a whole, before judging whether you like the move or not..
I think I can save a lot of bandwidth for this site. “Checked in on” = “How much is he asking?”
Nothing more than that.
So, to save time, space, money, and electricity, let’s just say, “Every team has ‘checked in on’ every free agent, and some trade prospects.
Man visits baseball rumours site only to be shocked as to what he finds, read the full story below.
actually, it’s Trade Rumours, so by your own point, this topic is off the mark.
point is, yes it is the cold part of the hot stove season until Judge signs. If nothing’s happening, just post, “Nothing new”
When team A is in talks with player blah, blah… let the ink fly. It’s not like any of us are going anywhere. We’re all checking in every couple of hours.
Yah I’m sure their advertisers would love that business model.
Are you suggesting they write no articles until Judge signs?
rct, yep. Time to go dark. We only report bonafide Judge or Correa signings from here on out..
actually, it’s Trade Rumours, so by your own point, this topic is off the mark.
————-
They have pointed out more than once that “traderumors” is simply branding now and just a name that doesn’t reflect the full scope of the site.
Unless Judge signs with the Giants, then just stay dark.
Nimmo is the “clear top outfield free agent”? He’s not even the best free-agent outfielder from a New York team…
Hahahahahahaha
Maybe he means he’s the clear top outfield free agent named Nimmo?
Maybe the best named Brandon. Let’s go!
Hahahahaha Another gem
Hahaha. Now THAT is funny!
Right, Nimmo is less likely than Benintendi.
Because the team is in win-now mode and they covet corner outfielders with little power and unflattering defense? Because they couldn’t afford Nimmo?
Nimmo is far more likely their preference. They lack stars. Benintendi would help, but for a team trying to get past Houston…
The sentence reads: “Outside of Aaron Judge, he’s the clear top outfield free agent . . .”
Was this edited after you posted your comment, or did you miss that part?
I don’t know if you are responding to me or not Fink. I got an alert. I was just laughing at the other guys comment is all. It gave me a chuckle.
No, TJ, I was replying to nkschum. Sometimes posters note mistake in the articles and they’re subsequently corrected. I dunno if that happened this time though.
They wrote that because Judge has already signed with the Yankees for an undisclosed amount. He’s agreed to keep quiet to give Giants fans hope until Christmas.
Crush all of their collective Holiday spirit in one swift $400 million blow right Clip?
It’ll be a Twitter post of Judge opening presents in a Giants jersey.
…..only to open a present of his #99 Yankees jersey and throw it on over the Giants one!
I almost spit out my beverage as I read that..Too funny Clip LOL!!!
Who will the Yankees sign when Judge goes to San Francisco?
Bellinger
Doesn’t matter. It won’t make up for his production, and if they finally sign a good SS, it will be about 3-4 seasons too late.
My guess is they immediately pivot to one of Rodon/DeGrom/Verlander, then Nimmo, probably one of Benintendi/Comforto/Yoshida/Bellinger, and quite possibly Turner/Correa.
They will spend money, no doubt. Perhaps even more than if Judge were re-signed to appease the fanbase and another perceived failure by Yankees administrators. It will not make up for Judge’s production/impact but they will ensure they are a 90-win team with a playoff ticket for Hal’s extra millions. To make it easy and pick a {random one from each grouping}, it would look like this:
Rodon
Nimmo
Benintendi
Turner
Clipper: I think Judge may be looking for a record deal in terms of AAV and total value. I wouldn’t be surprised if he values that more than anything else. The union is probably urging him to hold out for a record setting deal. So, what would that record setting deal be? I think it would be about 8 years at $47M per year. That would top Scherzer’s $43.33M AAV and Mookie’s $365M total value. Maybe Trout’s $360M deal has more present value. Not sure if Trout has deferred money like Mookie. Anyway, my point is I think the Yankees could probably sign Judge right now for about 8 years/$376M, but they haven’t. I wonder how close the Yankees are to that now. I have to think they are probably not too far away.
Suit: I agree brother, and I think he’s gone if that’s the case. I received information that the Yankees offered Judge somewhere in the $337M range.
I’ve seen pundits go as high with predictions as $410M now. I agree with those who believe Judge will be choosing between being a Yankee and being the highest paid.
Makes sense. This may be like the Freddie Freeman situation where Freddie left Atlanta for only $25M more.
Freddie left after they shocked him by dealing for Olson without telling him it was in the offing.
I think that’s too narrow a description, Clipper. There’s a lot more than money involved if he signs with the Giants, as I’ve been predicting for months.
He grew up rooting for the Giants. His family lives in Linden, an hour and a half from Oracle Park. Idiot Yankee fans booed him after he carried the team to the postseason and broke the AL home run record. The Giants have won three World Series since the Yankees’ last, and they’ve got lots of money. Judge has never been in a World Series with the Yankees and the same people are running the show now as were running it in the other failed years.
He’d be going home and so would his wife, whom he met in Linden High School. It’d be one heck of a “local boy makes good” story, wouldn’t it?
Yeah, that’s very true. If he leaves it’s about so much more than money to him. I was referring to the baseball/business side of the deal which I should’ve clarified. There’s a ton going into his decision way beyond just money and a uniform. I’m sure he’s probably soliciting advice from his parents and wife too, discussing the very same things, trying to balance whatever he wants in his personal life with his career, if they are at odds.
I don’t think anyone could blame him. Could blame Cashman & Co for not extending him sooner. I mean, they rebuilt a portion of the stadium and named it after the face of their franchise and then arrogantly watched him follow through on his word. That’s kind of embarrassing. Will they turn it into Finding Nimmo’s Cave?
Clip, $337 Mil tells me they’ll go to nice even $400 mil! Heck what is another 7 mil a year or so at that point.
Clipper, as much as I like and value Judge, I think the additions you mentioned:
Rodon
Nimmo
Benintendi
Turner
could put the Yankees closer to contending successfully with the Astros than keeping Judge and not getting Rodon. Cashman needs to admit to the fact that he made a mistake giving that enormous contract to Cole (the story is that Hal supposedly was convinced they needed Cole and pushed for the deal, but that could just be BS shoveled by rumormongers, for all I know).
I think an obstacle might be the front office belief that their team needs to be built to the dimensions of the park, i.e., focused on home runs. Those guys you mentioned should score plenty of runs, but none of them is a prodigious home run hitter.
Mainly, though, they need a rotation closer to Houston’s to beat Houston.
Well, I do agree with you. It’s an interesting dynamic for sure. What I meant is there’s no way to recapture Judge’s production, but the team may actually be more competitive against better teams because of those guys. But I also think that’s helps score more runs in a given series of someone, like Judge, goes gold. It’s a great point Fink.
And I agree on the rotation too. I do hope if they get Judge back they simply wouldn’t stop adding there, although that also wouldn’t surprise me one bit. Even if they bring everyone back, I still think they’re a couple key pieces short.
While there would be an obvious drop off from Judge to Nimmo, would the increase in production over the guys they are replacing from Rodon at #3 starter, Benintendi in LF, and Turner at shortstop be enough to make up for that difference from Judge?
If I remember correctly that was Taillon, Hicks, and IKF. Roughly 6.0 WAR combined?
So Rodon, Benintendi, and Turner would be a 7 WAR improvement over those 3 guys.
You would have a 5.5 WAR drop off from Judge to Nimmo, who both had career years in 2022.
It would also give the Yankees two roughly league average bench players in Hicks and IKF. Albeit somewhat expensive bench players. The Yankees can afford to keep them.
Alternately, signing just Rodon, Benintendi, and Turner would give the Yankees the ability to trade shortstop prospects for a CF with pop like Bryan Reynolds. While his 2022 numbers were not as good, Reynolds career numbers are just as good, and you have a better history of him staying healthy than you would in signing Nimmo.
The other advantage in trading for Reynolds is no loss of draft picks and international free agent pool dollars. Of course the Yankees would already be losing 4 picks for signing Rodon and Turner.
To heck with it. Just resign Judge and Taillon.
All good thoughts, surfer. But if they only bring back Judge and Taillon, aren’t they just running in place unless somebody besides Judge — especially on the pitching side — really breaks out?
Surfer, I think your postulation about trading key prospects is right on point. I believe that’s exactly what they would do if they acquired Turner.
Reynolds would be a huge boon for sure. My only concern is if they would be able to get him for anyone outside of Volpe++. Not because I’m that attached to Volpe, but more so because the Yankees/Cashman has made it abundantly clear he will not trade Volpe. I think it makes a package from another team more appealing to the Pirates.
My chief concern this offseason is that they would re-sign Judge, Tallion (or similar), Rizzo, and possibly Benintendi and call it a day. Same squad, more money.
As Fink pointed out, and as much as I despise my thought process here, I believe letting Judge walk may actually have some unintended benefits for the Yankees. It will light a fire, and they will bring in more compensation through a wider variety of players, perhaps giving the Yankees a more balanced team, thus making them more competitive with teams like the Astros, Dodgers, Toronto, and Cleveland.
Stove is ice cold. Nothing but stories about teams considering maybe looking into signing a guy. Get cracking, GMs.
Hell. no. Put the money to better use and go after Senga and one of the 4 shortstops. or Gleyber. Use Kelenic/Trammell in left saving some money and Trade off Flexen and Marco for whatever low end prospects we can get and save cash. Have a great starting 5, and a solid lineup and even if we actually did go hard after a Correa or Turner we’d be sitting only around 175. We can EASILY afford this and have wiggle room for extending our homegrown talent.
They should have the dough to get Nimmo, a star SS, and boost the pitching.
Nimmo would be ideal batting leadoff in front of Julio.
Would much rather see us just keep Mitch. You could have Teoscar/Julio/Mitch with Trammel/Kelenic/Haggerty/DMo all also competing for playing time out there. I think that’s absolutely solid. Id like to see the Ms spend equity in a trade for a middle infielder or a bigger bopper to DH.
Right. In this particular case – extended talent needs to take a back seat to winning a title.
Nimmo
Correa
JRod
Suarez (shift has killed him in recent years)
France
Hernandez
That’s a sick top 6. Then mix in a couple good months for both Crawford and Winker and that line up will put up a ton of runs.
I think Benintendi is a great fit for the Mariners. I also think Texas will ultimately outbid them.
Ok M’s fans, what kind of return would you be looking for in a Winker/Marco Gonzalez package? I asking for the Cardinals so think in those terms.
A high upside lefty reliever. A lefty utility infielder. A lefty bat. Does Tyler O’Neill bat left-handed? We can re-route re-do the Gonzales/O’neill trade lol. Not precisely informed of all nuances on your 40-man but those are things M’s need.
Well, O’Neill isn’t happening and he hits righty. We actually also need a LH bat, hence the interest in Winker. I guess the Cardinals would consider moving Genesis Cabrera, but I’m not sure he meets your criteria.
These kind of conversations right here are cool.
Mid-tier prospect and take on most if not all of their salaries.
Have the Mariners soured that much on Kelenic that they are looking at more outfielders? I looked at MLB TV and his value has dropped a ton there as trade bait. Haven’t paid to close attention to him I know he has struggled in the bigs but he’s still young surprised his value has fallen that far. Maybe he is change of scenery guy.
He has struggled with big league pitching thus far , but has torn up AAA. With win-now mode in Seattle, he needs to perform in the lineup or we get someone who will. He is only 23/24…can still figure it out. But no more time for him to figure it out while on the job with Seattle.
Trade them to Japan and bring back Suzuki and Kawasaki
Nimmo prefers to play center.. He was vocal about that last offseason when the Mets signed Marte. There are going to be several teams who want him to play center. I doubt he chooses the Mariners to play left when he will have an opportunity to play his prefered position
I’d be ok moving Julio shifting over to LF or RF to preserve his health if it meant signing Nimmo.
No. They haven’t. The Mariners checked on trading their OF for pitching and a 2B. They have looked at the backend starters and mid-level FA on the market. They may have checked on trading their OFers for other OF. What they have not done is check in on FA OF.
The Mariners need a better option than Dylan Moore at 2B. They need a better option at backup catcher. They need a back of the rotation starter. What they don’t need is another OF.
Sometimes a little common sense instead of just clickbait.
Ummm why do we need a better option at backup catcher when we have Tom Murphy and just traded for Cooper Hummel as well? Raleigh and Murphy are probably the best catching tandem in baseball and Cooper is totally servicable. We don’t truly even need a 5th starter with Flexen being completely servicable. Its just being greedy and I’m fine with that. What we need is a 2nd basemen and we are set. I’m fine with Winker getting motivated in a contract year and also fine with Kelenic and Trammel fighting for left with Haggerty jumping in too.
Nimmo will get paid to play CF. Seattle will not overpay a center-fielder to play LF. That’s just dumb. There are teams that need him more, and he will get paid. Bennitendi’s are a dime a dozen. If I squint really hard and become color blind, Taylor Trammell looks a lot like Benitendi
If the Mariners want to trade Kelenic, Tigers would be interested.
Kelenic for your closer, Soto.
Benitendi to the Mariner’s would be awesome!
Is Benintendi the most boring player in mlb?