MLB Winter Meetings: Rumors Swirling Early

Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 MLB Winter Meetings don’t officially begin until Monday morning, but the rumors are already swirling and the Seattle Mariners are right in the eye of the storm.

Several sources are confirming that the Mariners do intend to wheel and deal this week, many believe they will be the first to make a major move.

News that the Mariners are interested in David Price comes with glee and worry. The majority of the fan response I’ve seen, is that we don’t want Price if it means we lose Taijuan Walker.

Nelson Cruz is a name that many M’s fans have dreaded hearing because of his drug suspension in 2013. But he is good friends with newly-acquired Robinson Cano and that may play a role in bringing him in.

Joaquin Benoit would be a welcome addition to the back end of the Seattle bullpen. As for Corey Hart, I have been asking for him since I heard he had been cleared by his doctor as being fit for duty.

Three bats? We can assume two outfielders and a DH. Cruz or Shin-Soo Choo, Hart or Matt Kemp and then perhaps Kendrys Morales or Raul Ibanez.

Finally, we have this other tweet from Jon Heyman:

This would indicate that the Mariners are perhaps interested in dealing Dustin Ackley instead of Nick Franklin and moving Franklin to shortstop, possibly moving Brad Miller as well.

Remember, Franklin initially came up as a shortstop. And with the signing of utility man Willie Bloomquist, there is no need to keep even two of the three (Miller, Franklin and Ackley) so seeing them move two of them would make sense.

That’s all for tonight. Breaking news as it happens.