The time is right for the Mariners to make a deal

A Tweet from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick on Tuesday has set off quite a stir.

“@jcrasnick: Hearing rumblings that the #mariners are closing in on a trade for a hitter.”

There is nothing definitive in that Tweet other than Jerry Crasnick is hearing rumblings about the Mariners. Crasnick is someone who hears rumblings every day so it is significant that he felt this news was Tweet-worthy, but we know very little at this point.

I personally am hearing two things: 1) This is thought to be a smaller deal, not involving one of the major names we have been hearing that could be available; and 2) The Mariners have been tremendously active in trade talks the last couple of days.

To add to the intrigue, right on the heels of the Crasnick Tweet, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com had news of his own.

“@Ken_Rosenthal: Sources: #Padres, #Rays discussing significant trade. Talks involve a number of players. Wil Myers would be main piece going to SD.”

Completion of this trade would most likely take the Padres out of the race for Justin Upton. It also would make Padres outfielder Seth Smith more available. Smith, while left-handed, is still a good upgrade from what the Mariners have currently in-house. The Mariners’ trade talk we are hearing right now is most likely unrelated to the Padres/Rays buzz, but that could change.

About an hour and a half after his original Tweet, Crasnick gave a little more insight into what he was hearing.

“@jcrasnick: My sense is it’s a RH bat and someone who hasn’t been mentioned in a ton of #mariners speculation. That’s all I got.

Well, that is what they are looking for. Bottom line is, the Mariners have had countless talks with numerous teams about outfielders. They most likely will make a trade in the next few days.

When Crasnick’s original Tweet came across I was preparing a post on how it was time the Mariners dipped into their farm system and made a trade. Yes, money is easier to give up than prospects, but prospects are every bit as valuable as dollars in baseball and good teams build rosters by acquiring players with both forms of currency. The Mariners have built up their farm system enough to start dealing from it.

They actually already have. Two of the projected starting nine next year were acquired for prospects, Austin Jackson for Nick Franklin and Logan Morrison for Carter Capps. The Mariners dealt from areas of strength to bring in Jackson and Morrison and not only filled two needs they were looking to fill but also remained strong at those positions. So strong they could again deal from the middle-infield and relief-pitcher corps.

In his Monday column on ESPN.com, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden addressed the trade market for Justin Upton and listed five teams that could swing a deal for him. Clearly nobody has met the Braves’ initial demands, and while they still are looking for young pitching, Bowden believes Atlanta could come down from its demands that Taijaun Walker be involved in any deal.

Bowden reports that the Braves would be interested in two of the Mariners’ top 10 prospects, shortstop Ketel Marte and starting pitcher Edwin Diaz. The Mariners would gain one year of Upton plus a draft pick if Upton walks, provided Seattle gave him the qualifying offer. The Mariners could make this deal without giving up anything that would be needed in 2015.

Of course, this is just an idea from Bowden, but if it is in the ballpark so-to-speak of what the Braves are looking for, I would make that deal.

The Mariners should be willing to move those players regardless. I am not of the belief that they should make deals believing that it’s next-year-or-bust. That is what the reported Nationals trade proposal was all about. If there was a guarantee that the Mariners would make the World Series, then of course you would make that deal. With no guarantee, if the two rent-a-players went south that could spell disaster for your team and not just next year.

I don’t think the Mariners need to take that risk. They don’t need a Gold Glover or Silver Slugger in the outfield. They need an upgrade from what they have, either a short-term player that gives them the chance to take a shot at a better free-agent market next year, or a young player who can hit the ground running and perhaps continue to develop. That shouldn’t require Taijuan Walker and Brad Miller.

I would imagine a middle infielder, a right-hander out of the bullpen and perhaps a backup catcher or lower-level pitching prospect could get the job done. There are teams that are looking to strengthen their farm systems. With fewer question marks on the big-league team, more dollars in the budget and depth in the minors, the Mariners can afford to give up a package of prospects.

It is time to make a move.

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