On Metsblog today, John Harper speculates about a potential blockbuster trade between the Mets and Mariners. Former Rockies GM turned MLB Network analyst Dan O’Dowd added some fuel to the speculation with a more detailed proposal. Not sure if this is a real possibility or just speculation, but it would certainly make the back pages in New York. Here it is followed by one Mets360 blogger’s opinion.
Mets get second baseman Robinson Cano, center fielder Mallex Smith, and closer Edwin Diaz.
Mariners get Jay Bruce, Dominic Smith, and prospects Justin Dunn and Andres Giminez.
On the plus side – this would be a really bold move for Brodie Van Waganen and it would shake up our roster. Suddenly we’d have a real center fielder and lead off hitter in the speedy Mallex Smith, a strong closer in the young and controllable Diaz and a legitimate #3 hitter in Cano. Plus, we’d unload the slow-footed and streaky Bruce and his two remaining years of salary, and the man without a position – Dom Smith.
On the downside, we’d be taking on Cano’s massive contract. He’s 36 years old, coming off a PED suspension, and still owed $120 million. The Mets would have to get creative, moving Jeff McNeil to third base and either trading Todd Frazier or using McNeil as a supersub for this coming season. Cano could probably only play second base for another few seasons and would have to shift to first base eventually. This would also involve us trading away two of our best prospects, thinning out our farm system. Another issue is that both Cano and Smith are lefty hitters so the Mets would have the most lopsided lineup in baseball. Also, as if there aren’t enough new questions to deal with, what does this mean for the future of Peter Alonso?
I think the Mariners are an interesting team to talk to as they have a lot of pieces that could fit with the Mets and their GM seems desperate to tear it all down and start over. DiPoto would love nothing more than to move Cano. Perhaps there’s a way we could accommodate him, with a slightly different version of this trade, but this seems awfully complicated. Me personally, I don’t think I could stomach it. Given Cano’s age, contract and recent PED suspension, I’d pass on this version. What does the rest of the Mets360 community think?
Yeah, the Mets are going to 11their top prospect, two former # 1 draft picks one who is their top pitching prospect for a guy 36 years old an average center fielder, and a closer. I hope not
This is 100% proposed by O’Dowd and not rooted in any rumor. You would really have to love Diaz to do this. I don’t get the fascination with him and don’t think he’s a one a million extraordinary talent like people are hyping him up to be.
Mets have a 2nd baseman Jeff McNeil
They need his bat his defense and youth
Cano might still be a good hitter But too old and has too much owed to him
Yes we do need a true center fielder and lead off hitter Yes we need a closer
Also need a good catcher
Why doesn’t management go after some good free agents ?
Also let’s hope they are smart enough to keep our strength our starting pitchers !
Depends on how much money the Mariners eat and if they include Diaz or Haniger and take Bruce. Cano had s 140ish ops+ in the second half and still plays good defense.
My initial reaction to Cano was no…but, if this article has any validity I’m warming to the deal.
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I’m no baseball scout but I’d very likely want the next 4 years of Diaz instead of the next 4 year of Kimbrel, even excluding cost. Cano has been an elite player, HOF caliber, but he comes with plenty of risk. He will almost certainly be dead money the final 2 years of his deal, even with Seattle kicking in $10 mil/year. If it’s Cano + Diaz + $50 million, I’d be very tempted. Far from a perfect deal, but this is the Mets here. This could improve in multiple spots without too much financial risk.
I don’t see Seattle kicking in that much. But at 30 million would sound a lot more feasible. So much depends on how much money the Mariners include in this deal. But I would do it. Solves your CF and closer issues. Defense up the middle improves and you move a dead contract where the player has no position on this team. The good news the PED suspension meant Cano only played 80 games last year. The bad news if he fails another test he’s gone for the season. I’d put it in his contract (if this is legal) that if he fails another test the contract becomes void
The Mariners will cover some of Cano’s salary while the Mets would be paying 14 million per year. The Mets might go for the deal if the price is closer to 12 million rather than 14 mil. I’d rather have Matt Haniger over Mallex Smith as Haniger has power, and hits for average (280), can play RF and some CF too. Mallex is speedy fast and steals lot’s of bases so it might be a toss up between these two guys. They will also get Mariners star closer, named Diaz (don’t recall his first name). Diaz is under team control so he is not gonna be a free agent anytime soon. I do think this deal will get done but only if the Mets pay Cano 12 million per year.
I like the deal, only if Seattle ponies up the money and takes Bruce. It is a risk, but they kill three birds with one stone.
It also frees up the money to spend on another relief pitcher or two and a catcher.
It will be interesting to see how the Mets play their cards.
If the trade is broken down like this then the Mariners are giving the Mets three 3+ WAR players. Mallex Smith and Edwin Diaz are pre arb in 2019 and are free agents in 2023. They are established major league baseball players. Dunn and Giminez are great prospects but they are only prospects. Dom Smith was a prospect and so far he hasn’t panned out yet. The first two years of Cano will cost the same as Bruce and it is likely Cano will produce more than Bruce in those years. After the trade the Mets will still have the same money amount is spend for free agents as they have now. The other words, the can sign a catcher and good relief pitcher and maybe the utility player Marwin Gonzalez. The last 3 years of Cano’s should be worrisome but this trade is a “now win” move. As it is proposed then I would do it.
I do not think it good idea they should give McNeil 2b stating
Cano is 36yrs. and I believe starting to decline
Andres Giminez. Is supposed to be a top prospect
Maybe get Mallex Smith, to play C.f.
I just can’t bear the thought of watching Cano jog to first game in, game out. And turning triples into doubles, let alone posing on HR’s. Joining the ranks of Cespedes and Rosario. Will be very difficult to stomach.
would you for Machado?
I wrote this two years ago that the Mets should target Mallex Smith.
https://mets360.com/?s=Mallex+Smith&submit=Search&paged=2
I think we sometimes put too much value on prospects. It could be this is the last time we hear Kelenic or Dunn’s name mentioned with any relevance. My problem with this trade is that it may prevent the Mets from making a different, better deal. Although I’m not sure what that deal is – we certainly have an idea of how the rest of baseball views the Mets’ farm system – other teams view our top prospects as B-level at best. At least BVW is making things interesting.