Trade Cost Potentials for #Mariners in ’26 w/ Jon Morosi | #SeattleSports

Trade Cost Potentials for #Mariners in ’26 w/ Jon Morosi | #SeattleSports

give us your level of uh your level of surprise at the deal that Jorge Palano signed. Two years doesn't surprise me. The amount per year surprises me. And I'll say this, and I said it earlier, I do not blame the Mariners for not matching that. I don't think he's a $20 million a year player. I like him. I wanted him back, but not at 20 per. I was a little surprised by that number. Where are you with it? >> Agree. And agree. the the Mariners, I believe, can set about now finding next year's version of the 2025 Jorge Palano, if you will, when you think about the production they got from Palano this past year. And by the way, we all remember Palano was unsigned and available well into the new year. Yeah. >> And so, is is that person a a a second baseman? Potentially, they could make a trade for Brendan Donovan, who obviously financially costs a lot less. He would cost a lot in prospects of course, but the the point is there are ways they can go and and I am going to be fascinated. David Sterns is is attaching a lot of capital to the notion that a Palano is going to hit again in 26 the way that he hit in the postseason this year and B that he's going to be able to play a dependable first base. Obviously a position he's never played really consistently in the same way. So, uh, and obviously the Mariners did not have a need for him at first because they've got Naylor, uh, and they don't want to overcrowd the DH spot. I get it because they want to be able to give Cal some days there. So, it's I I think you're exactly right, Bob. He got way more than I thought he would. And and if I'm looking around saying you might be able if you wait, you might even be able to get Suadz on a shorter on a on a smaller dollar value than that. Now, I don't know how many years it's going to be, but let's just see how the market plays out once Bregman signs how many teams are lining up for Suades. If you wait this thing out, and it seems to me that's the the approach the Mariners are taking that that eventually the calendar flips to 2026, time will be on your side and and find the 2026 version of the Palano that you had in 2025. >> Give us a little scouting report on Brendan Donovan. Uh, I was just I was just looking at his stats. He's incredibly consistent. Looks like he was born in Germany. He's a uh he's a military kid and uh he just just looks like he's just a solid guy. What uh what do you think about, you know, uh possibly him playing second base? >> Really good ball player and he is a manager's dream, Dave. And by that I mean lowmaintenance player, loves to play, gives you really good at bat and he gives you above average defense in multiple positions. And when you check all those boxes, you've got basically the entire league lining up to acquire him. I will say this, >> I'd be surprised. Stunned is a strong word, but it's almost leaning that direction. really surprised if he is still a Cardinal when they report to Jupiter, Florida uh at the at the beginning of February because the Cardinals are doing exactly what they've done on the pitching side of things with their position players, which is they trade Sunny Gray to Boston. They get some prospects back. They just signed Dustin May to a one-year deal to fill that spot in the rotation with the idea being that you get him in and then he has a good first half and you trade him for more prospects. and they are clearly in this talent acquisition phase of their of their evolution if you will new president of baseball operations high and bloom. This is going to be the first I think really major trade the Cardinals make. Gray was a big trade but but the overall return I think is going to be higher for Donovan just because of of how many years of control and the way the industry feels about him. So big fan of Donovan. I I do think the Mariners because of their number and you just you could just look at it right now and why the staring contest is going on. The Cardinals, this might be a strong way of saying it, but I think it's a fair thing to say. They they would love to trade him to the Mariners. You just look at how many top 100 prospects the Mariners have in the industry. This is the team that you want to do business with. Now, is Cole Young going to be in the deal? Is Emerson going to be in the deal? Is Williamson going to be in the deal? You know, at some point the Mariners have to make a choice among that group. And there might actually be a bit of a cautionary tale in Harry Ford. I don't disagree with the fact that they traded Harry Ford. I think that it was probably time. He was not going to be their co-catcher with Cal Raleigh right now. So, you trade him for someone that's going to help your bullpen. The issue, though, is you could have probably gotten a lot more for Harry Ford if you traded him a year ago. And so what I what I would invite and encourage the Mariners to do, not that they really care about my opinion, but what I would encourage them to do is to is to make that decision because Crawford, Williamson, Young, Emerson are not all going to be everyday players for you in 2026. It is not possible. Josh Sandler plays first base and those four people will account for three positions. So, they're not all everyday players on this team in 2026. It's not a bad idea to make that decision now and and to decide who your guys are and how you feel about them because then you're able to okay, whoever is the the odd man out there, then you could trade him for Donovan. That may be a little oversimplifying things, but unlike with pitching, with position players, you don't have five second baseman on the diamond. You you get one. And e and and again, I get it. Injuries happen, but that's why you have Leo Revas. you have you already have your depth there. He's he's someone that can help you in that situation. So, um I I think it's time for the Mariners to make a choice. And whoever is not part of that inner circle, the inner inner circle, I think you should make available to to to get Brennan Donovan because this is not a team that's it's about winning trades on the margins. This is a team that can win the World Series. And we just we saw how close they came. They came within nine outs of beating the team that came within one pitch of beating the Dodgers. So, it's important to realize is how close they are. >> What What do you think the price tag is ultimately for Donovan versus somebody like Catel Marte? What are we What are we looking at? I I've heard I've read and heard a bunch of different scenarios and names thrown out there as far as prospects like, you know, Sanja uh is is a guy that's been brought up multiple times. um maybe a Logan Evans or an Emerson Hancock you could get away with versus trying to give away somebody that's in the starting rotation now, a George Kirby or Logan Gilbert, which are names I've heard as well. Uh Laz Montes, another prospect I've heard that teams are interested in obviously based on his potential for power. So if you're just comparing price tag of bringing Donovan in, not what he's owed financially, but just what you have to give up to get both of those guys in, what what do you think ballpark what we're looking at? >> It's really interesting. I I think that it's a it's a close comparison in terms of uh what the initial ask will be. I think that if you are willing to pay Marte's entire contract that you might be able to get a little bit of a discount in the prospects that you're giving up if you give up pitching. The Diamondbacks want pitching. They were they were able to sign Kelly, but I was told by a source this morning that this the Catel Marte thing is still being discussed. This is not at all a a retreat from that idea. So, they've already brought in Kelly. If if Catel Marte goes to the Seattle Mariners, I would be really surprised if Hancock or Evans is not part of the deal going to Arizona because they still need more pitching >> and and that would be a significant cost savings to the Diamondbacks. the Mariners would be taking on and again this might be why they prefer Donovan in a vacuum is he's a lot less expensive in terms of what you're going to be paying out. Um and and Seattle's pitching staff with arbitration raises etc is about to get a lot more expensive in the coming years. So I I get it. I I think that there's reasons why the Mariners would prefer Donovan, but the price tag is going to be high. I I just I don't see any way that they get Donovan without giving up one of the young infielders, either Emerson Young or Williamson. I just I think that you have to give up one of those players. Um they the Cardinals are awfully left-handed, so I think that's maybe a thought where they probably want to get a little more right-handed in terms of the way that their lineup's going to look. Um they may also be at the same time trading Aronado. I doubt that they would attach Aronado to Donovan. Although it' be kind of interesting, right, if if especially if Williamson would go in the deal. Do you do you basically do the Cardinals pay down almost all the money on on Aronado to make him not a free player, but a a cheap player? Uh that you would say, okay, hey, Nolan for one year bounce back. Not a great ballpark for him to hit it necessarily, but this guy is desperate to win a World Series. And I do think that he is much more open-minded to playing. You know, once upon a time when the trades were happening, he wanted to play at a select number of teams. I just think candidly he wants to play for a different team besides the Cardinals now if is where he's at. So, um I'd be fascinated by that and that again that might be one way for the Mariners to discount their their potential payment to the Cardinals and prospects if they take on more of Aronado's salary if if Aronado is attached to Donovan. Okay, Donovan plus Aronado, you can use Aronado's salary to to sort of titrate the money and then that scales up and down how much you're giving up in prospects. So, I think we just basically did the deal right then. Uh I feel pretty good about it and uh I hope uh High and Bloom and Jerry Depoto were listening. >> I'm sure they are. They listen to the show all the time. >> Yeah, it's their favorite. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Hey, uh what about the AL West and how it's shaping up for next year? I I love the I mean I obviously they're in the the division so I don't root for them too much but I like Jacob Wilson and Nick Curts and uh the A's but I mean the rest of the the AL West so far what you've seen and how they finished who's the biggest threat in the AL West. >> That's a great question. Uh the Angels still seem to be lost a little bit. They've got a ton of work to do. Uh, I do think it was good that they got Rodriguez and the Taylor Ward deal, but they're not especially close in my judgment to to being a a a contending team. Houston's got to show me a lot more. Uh, I I I worry about their lack of left-handed hitting. Uh, it's putting a lot on Cole, who's a young center fielder, to potentially be out there. I've heard no whispers of them trying to bring Tucker back. I I just from Valdez, who knows where he he winds up. It sure doesn't seem like the Astros are the leaders there either. So, there's just a ton of of questions there. The Rangers seem to be in a bit of a pivot where they're trying to maybe drop their salary a little. This I guess my short answer is this. The Mariners are as clear of a top a number one team as any division has in the American League right now in my opinion and maybe even all of baseball. The Dodgers though are pretty pretty good out west in the National League. Um, but the other piece of this is the A's are actually an interesting team and if they if they just keep their position player group, which is I think is good and getting better, um, you know, Curts, Wilson, Soderstrom, they got a nice nice looking team in my opinion, and then if they get enough good surprises or maybe add the right pitching, they can compete for at least a wild card. I mean, they're they're in very much the same position that the Tigers were two years ago when they made the playoffs. I mean, they're not now that they don't maybe have the the scoo and that level of pitching, but they're a good team. I and I I think if the other if the Astros and the Rangers start taking the A's for granted, that's a huge mistake. I I like their base of talent, honestly, right now, second best in the division. Now, big big question for me if if they're going to actually spend and how much they're going to add, but I I I think they've actually quietly done a really good job there in Sacramento. >> Hey, as far as some of the big names that are still out, you just brought up Scooble. I mean, we haven't heard much about that. That was kind of a hot conversation for a bit. Would the Tigers move him? What would it take to get him? Where where does that sit now? And then as far as is as as some of the other big names out, you brought up Tucker, you brought up Bregman, um Bashette, what what's happening with those? Haven't heard much in the way of uh I don't know, just hot hot stove rumors about any of them. >> No, you're right. We're kind of entering this interesting period. And and I'll I'll start I'll start this by acknowledging this piece of it that we're about a week away. Actually, like literally right now, a week from today is when Murakami's posting window closes. Mudaka Murakami, we've talked about him before. He's a he's a possible fit for the Mariners. I would say possible. Have you heard about interest in him from the Mariners? >> I think they're on the list and and I don't know if they've made an offer necessarily, but they've evaluated him. They they know the market well. Um he does fit. I think when you look at potentially playing third base and and that would obviously impact Williamson, I don't think that you would sign Murakami and trade for Donovan. So I I think that that while there is no trade deadline, obviously uh it it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of things collide a week from right now because it's going to be the last Monday before Christmas. It's the deadline for Murakami and and the Mariners may well say, "Listen, H Highen Bloom. Either accept this deal for Donovan that we're that this we're giving you our last best offer or we're going to turn and we're going to make an offer to Murakami and then we're done. We're done here." So, I think that's that's the one little leverage point the Mariners have is that they've there's a clear deadline that I think could actually even though Murakami is not the biggest name we're talking about, it could actually affect a lot of the other business that's going on right now. So, that's one thing to keep in mind. Murakami number one. Um, Scubble, the Tigers are still listening. I don't think they're close. I think the price tag is high and it should be. Uh, but they have not shut down any speculation about this. And I don't think it's just posturing. I think that they are legitimately willing to move him if they get an absolutely overwhelming offer. But you're going to have to buy them out of of that last year. They're going to have to make it worth their while. They're not just going to trade him to trade him. If they're 10 games under in July, it's a different story. They have no leverage. But now they have the leverage of saying, "Hey, we made the playoffs in back-to-back years. The last time we saw him pitch in Seattle looked pretty good. So, uh, we're not desperate to trade him with one year left. We'll just revisit it in July if if we're struggling. That's that's a good fallback position, and I think that they are using that position well from everything I've been able to gather. Um, free agency wise, Kyle Tucker, I think the Blue Jays are are on him. Um, he has, of course, he's from the Tampa area, so that would be living at home in the wintertime and in spring training, which is nice. Um, and then, of course, playing East, which is also nice for him. So that's that is something to to watch. Um I think that the Yankees Mets might be lurking a little bit. But again, the Mets just told the world the Palanco trade the the Blanco signing for me is one of the most fascinating and and illuminating deals I have seen in a long time because it basically David Cerns is saying I'd rather sign a player that I don't know to a really healthy two-year deal than go to five years for Pete Alonzo who I know and who is a franchise icon. And you're getting Palano to play a position he's really never played before. I just that to me says like no I guess what I'm saying is no part of Palano for two years tells me that they're about to pivot and sign Kyle Tucker for seven. It just that just doesn't make any sense to me. So I I I think that the the Blue Jays are probably the leaders in the clubhouse there if you look at it and and assess the market. Uh Bregman, I still think the incumbents there in Boston are the best fit for him. I don't see the Tigers as being as much of a threat now than they were a year ago because they've they've signed Gabber Torres back. So keep it keep that in mind there. And then Bett, I think he's waiting on Toronto. If Toronto signs Tucker, Bashette is it's kind of the shrug emoji about where he's going to go. I don't think I know there was some speculation about the Mariners early. I I don't think that Bett is really in the Mariners plans to play second base. It just it doesn't seem like they're at that spot. If his price comes way down, maybe that changes. But I I I know that Bo was sort of a sort of a fanciful notion, I think, for Mariner fans really in the offseason. I I have not really seen much uh substance to suggest that that's a reality right now. >> JP, I'm going to be I'm going to go negative here. Who's the biggest mess as a franchise right now based going into >> White Sox >> the off season? >> Actually, I would not I would not say the White Sox. Look at their look at their pitching. Uh they had some good performances there. Uh the farm system's really good. I I think they're actually you can you can kind of build and dream on them a little bit. Uh the Rockies are still I think they're still in the wilderness a little bit. I mean when you what's the definition of a really tough climb? You're in the same division as the Dodgers and you really haven't developed pitching. I mean they're they're in a pretty bad way in in in my opinion. Uh the the Pirates are trying at least. But this is where when you are in there as a as a franchise and you're trying to sign big-time players, there's this famous quote with with Andrew Friedman that Andrew Freeman said years ago, if you're disciplined in every free agent pursuit, you will finish third in every free agent pursuit. At some point, the Pirates have to get uncomfortable and they have to say, "You know what, Ryan O'Harn, I'll give you a three-year deal and you'll be our first baseman and and we're going to make you the the centerpiece of our of our offseason." But I like I don't think the Pirates were close to signing Cory Palano away from the Mets for 20 million bucks a year. I just I don't think that they were in that range. I mean, I could be wrong, but I don't think they were close. Similarly, Schwarber was not going to say, "Yeah, Phillies, great deal, World Series contender, but I'm going to go to Pittsburgh for less money." It's just that's that's not going to happen. So, so they they have let this free agency muscle atrophy for so long that they're going to have to work doubly hard to just to get in the door. So, they're Is that a mess? I mean, they're starting to like like the lights aren't aren't on yet in the room, but they at least have a general idea where the light switch is, I guess, is what I'm saying. They're they're like they're like starting to move in that direction. Um, the Rockies, they're they're still they're still, I think, in the wilderness a little bit. I I just think that um and Paul D Podesta's coming in. He hasn't worked in the industry in 10 years. Uh that's different, obviously. and and I I like Paul a lot, but he's got a he's got a big- time learning curve to to figure that out after working for the Browns for a number of years in the NFL. So, um they've got they probably have the steepest climb of all. Uh the Angels have some work to do as well uh on off the field, a lot of different things. Rendone that situation. It's just there's a lot that they have to work through politically at this moment in time, but I think the Rockies probably have the the toughest challenge at the moment. I like that Pittsburgh is actually trying. >> Yeah, they're trying to finagle it before the CBA potential work stop. >> They get the participation trophy. They have uh you know the it's like it's like they say that you're going to fly the banner that says uh held to a disciplined process. You know, put that flag up there and fly it. That's kind of what they're that's what they're trying to do. >> It's inspiring. Hey John, quickly before we let you go, I was reading the story about the Dodgers and all the deferred money that they've got on the books that even even Edwin Diaz is not going to receive all of his 69 million from the Dodgers until 2047. And the Dodgers are now on the hook for over a billion dollars in deferred money through 2047 with Diaz, Otani Betts, Snell, Freeman, Will Smith, Tommy Edmund, Tanner Scott, Tay Oscar Hernandez. I mean, all deferring money to play there and they keep accumulating high-end talent. At what point do you look at this and go, "This is starting to become bad for baseball." Because that's where everybody points to the Dodgers saying, "Well, this isn't fair. They're getting all these superstars and they just keep adding to the pile and all that money is being pushed back. It's going to have to get paid. They're still on the hook for it, but people are looking at it as as an unfair situation." Do you agree? >> Well, here's what I would say. This is not just a tool that that they have used. Other teams have used the same thing. And obviously, and this is I'm acknowledging something that's well outside my expertise. Uh at what point in time, where where are you taxed? And at what rate, if you are collecting money well into the future that is connected to one's playing career in California, a high tax state, but let's say you're living in a let's say you then move to Texas or Tennessee, Florida. Uh what happens then? And that's again uh uh that that is a question for which I would recommend you consult your tax attorney because I'm not I'm not uh qualified to give advice on that. But I I do think it is an interesting. So, but that that sort of there's that fairness notion. But again, if if if the Tampa Bay Rays brought up the next the next Otani or the next Edwin Diaz, let's say, and wanted to sign him and and he says, "Yeah, I want to stay with your team." And you're like, "Well, I you know, I don't have the Dodgers payroll, but I will give you this this graduated long-term payout that will make you whole. will pay the interest everything in the future. It's it's interesting. And obviously the the other piece of this whole thing is it's it's Guggenheim. It's a it's a a financial powerhouse that owns the team. So they believe that if they that depending on what they're doing in their investment business that they believe they can probably make better than the standard interest rate and they can come out ahead on the whole transaction because they're making more money in the future that they have to then pay out. You know, again, if you're if you make 15%, you're paying out at 7% 10 years from now, you've made money. So, I I think that that's um uh again, I'm I consult your financial adviser on that one, though, but that's that's my own rudimentary understanding of math. But um so I I I think it's actually not it is not a in my view, it is not an issue of of competitive balance as long as everybody has the ability to pay out contracts of that structure. And to my knowledge, they do. Now, I I I don't know if if if a player believes that he's able to get more money in the future, like more over, listen, I'm going to give you X, but you have to pay it out at this rate and you get interest. If if a guy ends up making the money at the end of the day, I I don't I don't want to begrudge him for doing that. So, I I long story short, I don't have an issue with it. Uh but I I do think in some ways standardizing this would be a very helpful way to uh to handle the the CBA now going forward.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network joins Bob Stelton and Dave Wyman (Wyman & Bob) to share his reaction to the Jorge Polanco trade, potential price tags on Ketel Marte and Brendan Donovan, and a look on the AL West in 2026.

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0:00 – Thoughts on Mets paying Polanco $20m per year
2:15 – Brendan Donovan scouting report
6:21 – Price tag for a Brendan Donovan vs Ketel Marte
8:45 – Potential deals with the Cardinals
10:00 – AL West outlook for ’26
12:36 – Bichette, Tucker, Bregman?
17:05 – Biggest franchise mess in MLB currently
20:04 – Dodgers deferring more money = bad for baseball?

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Listen to The Wyman & Bob Show weekdays from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. live on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports App, or on-demand wherever you listen to podcasts.
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