Predicting Where 5 Seattle Mariners Trade Chips Will Land

SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 01: Tim Beckham #1 of the Seattle Mariners pretends to take a picture of Dee Gordon #9 as they celebrate their win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at T-Mobile Park on April 1, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 6-3. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 01: Tim Beckham #1 of the Seattle Mariners pretends to take a picture of Dee Gordon #9 as they celebrate their win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at T-Mobile Park on April 1, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 6-3. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /
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Dee Gordon

SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 23: Dee Gordon #9 of the Seattle Mariners hits an RBI-single off of relief pitcher Matt Wotherspoon that scored Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a game at T-Mobile Park on June 23, 2019, in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 13-3. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 23: Dee Gordon #9 of the Seattle Mariners hits an RBI-single off of relief pitcher Matt Wotherspoon that scored Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a game at T-Mobile Park on June 23, 2019, in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 13-3. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Perhaps the hardest player to place in this exercise is Dee Gordon. The beloved fan favorite has been a disappointment during his Mariners career but that is partially due to injury. He was off to a hot start in 2018 before he broke a toe and looked like his old self in 2019 until he fractured his wrist.

But whatever the reason for his struggles, Gordon just hasn’t been good for a year and a half now and isn’t carrying a contract that supports the numbers he is putting up. Due $5 million for the remainder of this season and $13.8 million for next season plus a $1 million buyout, finding a taker for Gordon and his $20 million investment won’t be easy.

Dipoto will have to eat money, which isn’t a problem, but will still have trouble finding a suitor. If the Mariners are willing to eat the type of money they did for Jay Bruce, a deal would likely get done. But anything short of that and Dipoto will have his hands full.

There is a real chance nobody bites on Gordon and he finishes out the season with the Mariners. Before he fractured his wrist, Gordon was playing well, slashing .304/.336/407. But since then he has posted a .252 OBP with a sub .300 slugging percentage. If he can hit that for the remainder of the season, he could have more value this winter.

Finding a partner with the money to take on Dee Gordon and the hole to fill at second base isn’t easy, but there are a few options, especially if Dipoto eats a lot of money.

Possible Destinations: LA Dodgers, Boston, San Francisco, Cleveland

Destination: Dodgers