Let me start by getting this out of the way: Despite the rumors, I don't think the Mariners are going to trade Felix Hernandez anytime soon.
Hernandez is the best pitcher in the American League and he's signed through 2014 at a rate that is reasonable for a player of his caliber.
The Mariners are a well-supported team that is regularly in the top half of the league in team payroll and has no apparent need to cut salary. There are no Mets-style financial problems here.
There have been some rumors circling about Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik's job security, so you'd think the last thing he'd want to do is trade away his best player and make his team considerably less competitive in the short term.
And then there's the matter of Hernandez's no-trade clause. According to Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi, Hernandez can block a deal to "the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies and two unknown teams." Notice that that list covers most of the teams with the money lying around to afford Hernandez (and the Mets).
So there are plenty of reasons to think a deal won't happen. But none of them mean a deal can't happen.
If Seattle decides they don't have the core players to compete anytime soon, they may decide a full rebuild is necessary. And the teams on Hernandez's no-trade clause that are interested in acquiring his services would probably be willing to offer him enough added financial incentive to drop that clause from his contract and allow a deal to go through.
But money alone won't be enough. If Hernandez does become available, teams will also need to offer the Mariners some serious young talent in return. Which brings us to five enticing offers that could at least conceivably convince the Mariners to part with King Felix.
- Login to post comments