Seattle Mariners: Mitch Haniger’s Top 5 Potential Trade Destinations

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners smiles during batting at Yankee Stadium on May 06, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners smiles during batting at Yankee Stadium on May 06, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

SAN DIEGO, CA – JUNE 5: Adam Haseley #40 of the Philadelphia Phillies is congratulated by Bryce Harper #3 after scoring during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park June 5, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JUNE 5: Adam Haseley #40 of the Philadelphia Phillies is congratulated by Bryce Harper #3 after scoring during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park June 5, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Wait, didn’t the Mariners just trade one of their outfielders to Philadelphia? That would be correct, and in Jay Bruce‘s first game with the Phillies, Andrew McCutchen tore his ACL. This came just days after their starting centerfielder Odúbel Herrera was arrested for allegedly committing an act of domestic violence against his girlfriend.

For a team commanding a wild card spot at 39-32, just three games out of their division’s lead spot, their outfield situation appears rather bleak. Aside from Bryce Harper and Scott Kingery, there aren’t a whole lot of viable, productive options for their outfield.

Bruce has been dominant at the plate since departing Seattle, but is still quite the defensive liability in the outfield and will eventually cool down offensively. Phillies top prospect Adam Haseley was called up when McCutchen was injured, but has only played two games thus far, and the organization appears to be just about done with Roman Quinn and Nick Williams as well, so there aren’t really any internal solutions for them.

Minus Jake Arrieta, the Phillies don’t have any significant players hitting the free agent market in 2020. So this season isn’t necessarily a do-or-die year for them and may lead to them holding off on any desperate moves at the deadline this year, meaning Haniger may not be an option for them if Dipoto doesn’t budge on price. But this is one of the most obvious fits for him, given Philadelphia’s string of misfortune in their outfield.

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