Should the Mariners Trade King Felix?

[Sea Ray]

It appears to me that the Seattle Mariners are likely the worst team in MLB this year. And given their age, it's not likely to turn around anytime soon. Looking at their starting 8 the only up and comer is Justin Smoak who also happens to be the only starter who's under 25 years old. If you up and down their lineup, every other player is on the downside of his career with the possible exception of Gutierrez and Ryan who you might, on a good day, say are in their prime. By any standard 6 of the starting nine have declining skills. Guiterrez hasn't even played this year and with him out the M's have 29 yr old Brendan Ryan, joining Smoak as the only starters under 30. The pitching staff is a little better with a talented up and comer in Michael Pineda, but not much after him. The attendance at Safeco has never been worse.

So should the M's shop Felix Hernandez and try to get a haul from which to rebuild? I'm thinking they have to. They aren't winning much even when Felix does pitch and they need to try to get several impact players to dig themselves out of this hole.

[Ghosts of 1990]

I would give them Alonso, Leake, Frazier, and Heisey and their choice of Mesoraco or Grandal for him and not look back.

[Sea Ray]

I really wasn't thinking about a possible Reds trade due to $$ but I do think the M's should be considering a trade for another organizations top 4 minor league prospects or something along those lines. I was really looking at from their prospective rather than as a Reds fan

[jojo]

No. They've got good crop of young players and the financial resources to augment them. Their situation isn't nearly as dire as casual observers suggest when trade king Felix threads pop up.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I agree with Jojo. They're obviously going to have a bad season (maybe 2 or 3) but that's what happens in a transition period. Felix is young enough to carry over until the help arrives and still be able to move them forward. They don't have a top 1 or 2 farm system...but it's not exactly chopped liver either. Give them a year or two and they'll be competitive yet again.

That being said, if they DO shop him....they've got to get one solid arm back in the deal AND several players who can help them within a year or so. I don't see the Reds being in this picture. His contract is just too big and will only get bigger based on his skills.

[Ghosts of 1990]

What would you guys give up from our current team to acquire him? What would get it done?

[cinreds21]

What would you guys give up from our current team to acquire him? What would get it done?

I don't think they'd be too interested in anyone on the current team (meaning 25-man roster.)


It would most certainly have to be mostly guys in Triple-A or in A-Ball.

With the depth that we have, I would have no problem with giving up something along the lines of Leake/Wood, two (or maybe even 3) of Francisco, Frazier, Alonso, Sappelt, Grandal and either LeCure or Maloney.

[_Sir_Charles_]

What would you guys give up from our current team to acquire him? What would get it done?

I'm sure we've got the prospects to get a deal done, but the problem isn't satisfying the M's part, but rather the Reds taking on that much salary. 5 year deal at 108 million. I simply don't see the Reds even remotely in the ballpark for that one.

[cumberlandreds]

I would give them Leake but that would be a "steal" of a trade.

[CarolinaRedleg]

I would give them Leake but that would be a "steal" of a trade.

Someone had to.....

[PuffyPig]

Someone had to.....

No they didn't.

[_Sir_Charles_]

No they didn't.

Indeed. Getting old....FAST.

[fearofpopvol1]

I think they should, but they're not going to.

[Slyder]

Unless theyre getting a Votto type player as part of the package whats the point? He's 25 and won a cy young you can count those types of pitchers on one hand. The PR hit alone is not worth whatever package theyd get short of superstar for superstar type deal.

[mdccclxix]

It would break the spirit of even the best Mariners fan, no way they should do it. They should spring for Fielder next year and leave the Bradley legacy in the dust.