Seattle Mariners Need To Pull the Trigger on Trading for Edwin Jackson

As I am sure you all know, news broke recently about the Seattle Mariners potentially looking into trading for Edwin Jackson, most likely trading Brandon Morrow in the process. This is the first rumor of the offseason I want to see become a reality.

The most obvious reason for this is the fact that Seattle needs a solid starter behind Felix Hernandez. If they trade Morrow and get Jackson, it would really bolster the rotation.

The Mariners explored the option of picking up Jackson when he was still in Tampa Bay. Now could be the best time to pick him up.

It would take more than Morrow to snag Edwin Jackson, though. A small package of pitchers could be assembled to meet Detroit's needs. After all, the Mariners have a lot of potential starters and relievers. Maybe Morrow, Shawn Kelley, and Jason Vargas. Detroit may even want Luke French back.

All four of them can play at the major league level, and all four wouldn't cost more than the ML minimum since that is what they are looking for. The final deal shouldn't include more than two or three players, depending on the details.

It would be sad to see Brandon Morrow leave, but I believe the new management isn't sold on the idea that he has to be on the team. He has struggled to adjust with all the flip-flopping done to him over the last two years. He may be able to become a good, solid starter.

Maybe.

The money that Seattle would spend on Jackson's arbitration shouldn't break the bank, and they could still make a run at John Lackey, the team's main pitching target.

Imagine a rotation of Hernandez, Lackey, Jackson, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Ian Snell.

Now a trade for Edwin Jackson and Curtis Granderson gets a little more costly and likely involves the loss of Michael Saunders. As I have stated before, getting a solid player in LF could hurt the Mariners when Dustin Ackley is ready. I believe Saunders could be a good stop-gap player for a year. The team could trade him later on in the year or in the next offseason.

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