5 James Paxton Trade Packages For Selling Seattle Mariners

Paxton to the Cardinals for Jack Flaherty, Randal Grichuk, Dakota Hudson

Another trade, another young outfielder. This time, one with a much longer track record in Major League Baseball. The Cardinals, as always, have a rock solid farm system and should be looking to compete in mid-2018. They have a glut of young outfielders, but Grichuk is the most likely to be dealt. You can likely replace Grichuk with either Harrison Bader or Tyler O’Neill if you wish and still get a deal done.

For what its worth, Grichuk poses plus power, and can play all 3 outfield spots. He also grades out as a very good base-runner. He needs to redefine his approach to cut down on the K’s, but still have upside as a 26-year-old player.

However. Grichuk is not the headliner of this deal. That honor goes to Jack Flaherty. The RHP is MLB’s 48th best prospect and it’s easy to see why. Flaherty has 3 above-average pitches, including a plus changeup. He also posted a 4:1 K/BB ratio, average a strikeout per inning and walking only 35 hitters in 148.2 innings.

In addition to Flaherty and Grichuk (or Bader, or O’Neill, seriously pick the one you like) the Mariners also nab 2016 first round pick Dakota Hudson. Recently called the nastiest pitcher in AA by Mariners prospect Braden Bishop, Hudson has a legitimate chance to pitch in the big leagues in 2018, and poses 2 above-average pitches in his arsenal. While not a strike out pitcher now, there is definitely upside left, and Hudson posted a 2:1 GB/FB ratio over 152.2 inning