Seattle Mariners: Best to Give Mark Trumbo a Wide Berth
By Paul Taylor
Despite some initial intrigue, adding Mark Trumbo to the Seattle Mariners’ roster doesn’t make sense for a whole variety of reasons.
When ESPN‘s Jim Bowden first reported the Seattle Mariners were in talks with Mark Trumbo, there was a lot of understandable excitement among fans. After all, he is coming off the best season of his career, which included a league-leading 47 home runs and a personal-high 108 RBIs.
Just the thought of adding Trumbo to a lineup that already includes the likes of Jean Segura, Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz, certainly sounds tantalizing. However, it turns out the talks weren’t quite as serious as Bowden indicated.
While there was no denying the two sides had met, it seems it was more a case of the Mariners putting their feelers out with their former player. In fact, on Wednesday, ESPN‘s Jerry Crasnick reported that the organization was moving on from the two-time All-Star.
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Now, this does not mean a signature is out of the question altogether. However, as Crasnick advised, several things would have to happen for the Mariners to re-engage with Trumbo.
One of these things is probably the 30-year old’s salary demands. The latest speculation indicates he is looking for a four-year deal, in the $75-80 million range.
Trumbo has already rejected a four-year, $52-55 million offer from the Baltimore Orioles, who he played for in 2016. However, while no one can blame him for looking to see what the market value is for him, he appears to be slightly optimistic with how much money he believes he can command.
Apart from this, there are other reasons why the Mariners are smart not to sign the 2016 Silver Slugger, based on his current demands. The other major factor relates to his defensive skills – or lack thereof.
You also have to figure Trumbo’s production would take a hit in Safeco Field. Throw in his penchant for striking out too much, and the Mariners have made the right decision to move on at this stage.
The way things stand, the Mariners seem content to use a platoon of Danny Valencia and Dan Vogelbach at first base, while having enough options in the outfield. As for Trumbo, he is still receiving a lot of interest, with the likes of the Orioles and Cleveland Indians reportedly in the mix.
What was your reaction when you first heard the Mariners had talked to Trumbo? Further, would you still like to see the front office attempt to sign him, or are you happy for them to move on? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.