On Wednesday the Seattle Mariners traded outfielder Michael Saunders to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for starter J.A. Happ. Does this move indicate the Mariners are inching toward a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for Matt Kemp?
The acquisition of Happ, a left-hander, gives the team more depth in the starting rotation, which could mean Seattle is willing to include pitchers James Paxton or Tijuan Walker in a trade to land Kemp. It was noted earlier this week that the Dodgers want one of those two starters if they were to part with the 30-year-old outfielder because he's still very much a reliable bat (and the Dodgers have depth issues in the starting rotation).
Despite two injury-shortened seasons in 2012 and 2013, Kemp bounced back in 2014 with a .287/.346/.506 stat line and added 25 home runs and 89 RBIs in 150 games. He played most of his games (59) in right field this past season and also logged 44 in left field and 41 in center field. The fact that the Mariners sent Saunders to Toronto now means they have a vacancy in right field where Kemp can easily fill in. The team did just sign outfielder Nelson Cruz on Monday to a four-year deal, but they're probably viewing him as more of a designated hitter since that's where he played the most games for the Orioles last season. Additionally, at 34 years old, they likely want to conserve the remaining productive years he has left and avoid having him playing a lot of games in the field.
"In-between [signing Cruz], there was the deal that dispatched Saunders, a left-handed hitter, to Toronto, where he is expected to be the Blue Jays' starting left fielder after six often promising if inconsistent seasons with the Mariners," writes Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune. "In Happ, the Mariners acquired a 32-year-old lefty who bolsters their rotation, perhaps, to the point where they can now trade a pitcher in order to acquire the next item on their list: a right-handed-hitter outfielder."
The Mariners already have four left-handed batters in the lineup, including Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, Dustin Ackley and Logan Morrison. The addition of Cruz helped their situation with the power amongst the right-handed hitters, but it looks like the M's want to add one more to round off an already threatening lineup. The Mariners have the financial flexibility to add Kemp and his remaining $107 million over the next five seasons, especially since they inked a lucrative television deal last year with Root Sports Northwest and hold a majority stake.
Seattle has also been in talks with the Red Sox and Braves about Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton, so keep an eye out for something occurring on that front.
