New York Mets Still Looking For Shortstop, Mariners Not Talking, Yet

We’ve been hearing it for months. The Mariners are going to trade Nick Franklin, the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays are the most likely destinations. Yet, here we are sitting on May 21 and nothing has come of it.

Perhaps the tide may be turning?

With the Boston Red Sox re-signing Stephen Drew the other day, it all but eliminates the available options for a team like the Mets to just go out and sign a shortstop, at least for this season.

The Seattle Mariners are stocked full of sub-par to average talent at the shortstop position. Between Franklin, Brad Miller and Chris Taylor, there has to be something the Mariners can do to pull off a deal…..right?

According to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, the two sides aren’t even talking, despite interest by the Mets in either Franklin or Miller.

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

But who to let go of? If you ask most Mariners fans, right now it would be Brad Miller. Problem is, with him batting below his playing weight, he has all but eliminated his trade value. Meaning, the Mariners would have to give up significant talent in the form of other pieces to acquire something good in return.

But there lies another question: Is it possible that the Mariners and Mets haven’t made a deal because the Mariners don’t want anyone the Mets have?

Let’s assume for a moment that RHP’s Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero are on the untouchable list. The Mariners aren’t gonna get Curtis Granderson or David Wright. They don’t need Lucas Duda. So who is there?

How about a third team? Someone like the aforementioned Rays?

The further down the AL East standings the Rays fall, the more likely they will be looking to unload David Price by the July 31st deadline. They will be looking to acquire minor league talent that can be ready in a year, two at the most.

So let me propose the following.

Tampa Bay Rays get: RHP Brandon Maurer (SEA), C Kevin Plawecki (AA-NYM), SS Gavin Cecchini (A-NYM)

New York Mets get: SS Brad Miller (SEA), RHP Brad Boxberger (TB), LHP Blake Snell (A-TB)

Seattle Mariners get: David Price (TB), RHP Jeurys Familia (NYM).

After that, the Mariners can go re-sign Kendrys Morales like most people believe is going to happen anyways, and the Mariners would have their power bat they need and a 1-2-3 rotation of Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and Price.

Hard to argue with that Murderer’s Row.

I don’t know if anything like this will get done or not. All I know is that when a team gets desperate, creative things happen. The Mets are bordering desperation in their search for a decent shortstop. Something like this just might work.