Seattle Mariners Should Target These 4 Players in Trade

Justin Bour, First Baseman, Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins have new ownership, and are demanding to their baseball ops people that they shed payroll to get below the $90 million mark. A great way to endear yourself to a new fan base right?

The Marlins have already stated a preference to move on from big name and high-priced players like Martin Prado, Dee Gordon, and some Hulk looking player named Giancarlo Stanton. But these 3 players each represent unique challenges. Prado is scheduled to make $28 million over the next 2 seasons, and is simply not worth that much money.

Stanton will have plenty of suitors, but the contract is a bit of an issue for any inquiring team, except for maybe the Phillies (hint, hint). Gordon is a light hitting second baseman, who relies on speed and defense for his value, not tools that tend to age well. Gordon is 29 years old and still has at least 3 years and $37 million left on his deal.

The Mariners are not obvious fits for any of these players. They are, however, a fit for Justin Bour. Bour is beloved by the Marlins and their fans, and is scheduled to make just $3.5 million as an arbitration 1 player. He has 3 year of control left, and would not come cheap.

Bour prodigious left-handed power would be a good fit in Seattle, and his on-base skill is well above average. It is hard to see the Mariners and Marlins line up in trade talks, and the M’s would probably have to part ways with Nick Neidet, Andrew Moore, or Marcos Gonzales to make it happen.

Proposal: Nick Neidert and Chuck Taylor for Justin Bour