Seattle Mariners to acquire Dee Gordon from Miami Marlins
By David Hill
The Seattle Mariners have continued their trading ways, as they have acquired Dee Gordon from the rebuilding Miami Marlins.
The Seattle Mariners were not considered a likely destination for Dee Gordon. While he was firmly on the block with the Miami Marlins looking to cut payroll, the Mariners already had All Star Robinson Cano at second. Although Gordon would fit the mold of the more dynamic player that general manager Jerry DiPoto has been attempting to acquire, second base was not a need.
Well, so much for that idea. In a surprising move, the Mariners have acquired the Marlins speedy second baseman. Although the return is not entirely known at this point, Seattle is sending 2015 second round pick Nick Neidert as part of the package.
In addition to landing their new leadoff hitter, the Mariners have also acquired more money towards their international signing bonus. With the $1 Million acquired from the Marlins, Seattle now has $4000 more to offer in the Shohei Otani Sweepstakes. After their trade earlier in the week with the Twins, the Mariners are certainly doing their best to make sure they can give Otani as much money up front as possible.
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Of course, there are questions as to how the roster will shape up now that Gordon is in the fold. A Gold Glove second baseman in 2015, it is expected that Gordon will move to center field. With his speed, it is expected that this will be a relatively easy transition for Gordon.
Gordon does have an interesting history. A two time All Star, he has led the National League in stolen bases three times in the last four years. However, he was also the recipient of an 80 game PED suspension during a miserable 2016 campaign. However, since establishing himself as a regular in 2014, he has posted a solid .304/.336/.382 batting line with 212 steals.
Meanwhile, for the Marlins, this is a sign that the rebuild is beginning. While Giancarlo Stanton rumors have been swirling, this is the first major move that Miami has made to cut payroll. As the Mariners were willing to take on all of Gordon’s salary, their return of prospects is almost a secondary consideration.
That shows with the acquisition of Neidert. He had pitched well in the California League, posting a 10-3 record with a 2.76 ERA and a 1.073 WHiP, striking out 109 batters in 104.1 innings. However, when he was promoted to AA later in the season, he struggled mightily. He posted a 1-3 record with a 6.56 ERA and a 1.629 WHiP in his 23.1 innings, striking out only 13 batters. While the Marlins have to hope that is just a blip on the radar, there are scouts that questioned whether or not Neidert can become major league material.
Next: Mariners front runners for Otani
The Miami Marlins fire sale has begun, with Dee Gordon heading to the Seattle Mariners. This is just the first domino to fall in what should be an eventful offseason for the Marlins.