The Seattle Mariners have been mentioned in numerous trade rumors all spring and names like Nick Franklin, Brad Miller and Justin Smoak have come up and some of those could be on the trading block for a deal with the NY Yankees for David Phelps as Opening Day approaches next week.
The Mariners have been dealing with injuries to pitchers Taijuan Walker and Hisashi Iwakuma and after Randy Wolf opted to get out of the contract he signed earlier in the offseason, the team could turn to the trade market. According to Hardball Talk, the Mariners have scouted Phelps this spring and now that Wolf is gone and Michael Pineda made it into the rotation for the Yankees, he could be a target for the team. The Mariners added Chris Young this week after their issues with Randy Wolf and while he could be a short term option to start the season, Seattle could be looking to upgrade the rotation until Hisashi Iwakuma can return healthy.
Franklin's name has come up the most in trade rumors and for a time he was linked to the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays after those teams showed interest, but two of them pulled off other trades already, while the Rays have sat tight heading into the season. The Mariners and Rays were talking a David Price trade in December, but that never moved along after he said that he wouldn't sign an extension in Seattle. Price could get moved this season, but the Mariners are likely out of the running for those same reasons and while the Orioles and Tigers are out on Franklin, the Yankees could look to make a deal to upgrade their infield. Franklin could be an insurance policy at two positions, as he is a natural shortstop and has played second base since coming up to the majors last season.
Franklin and Miller were set to compete this spring at shortstop after the team signed Robinson Cano, which shifted Franklin to another role, as Cano is obviously the starter. The Seattle Times is reporting that like prospect Dustin Ackley, Franklin is testing out his skills in the outfield as a way to get more involved this season and while that could mean he is staying, the Mariners could opt for a deal if the Yankees are down for it. Phelps would be a solid option to add to the rotation and they would likely jump for Franklin, as they have Derek Jeter on wobbly legs at SS and Brendan Ryan injured and they are relying on Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts at other infield positions and that could end up being a disaster if one of them gets injured.
Phelps was solid last season while going 6-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 22 appearances and 12 starts and he could be a nice addition to the Mariners rotation. Miller looks like he will be the starter at short and Smoak has been solid this spring and while he has come up in trade rumors in the past, the team likes him over Corey Hart and Logan Morrison right now. The Mariners and Yankees likely will not make a deal, but both sides could find themselves needing one a couple weeks into the season.
