Mariners Rumors: Trading with the Cubs for Kyle Hendricks

Mariners Trade 3: Cubs go full sell mode

Here we go. According to trade values, the Mariners would be getting 22.2 and the Cubs would be getting 25.5. It’s labeled as a fair trade and shows as being accepted on the site. It gets the Cubs off of Hendricks contract, off of Kimbrel’s contract, and a top 100 prospect in exchange for Baez and Bryant, who are both rumored to leave this offseason.

Not only that, but the Cubs would also get Campbell, who rounds out the Mariners top ten prospect list. Getting him onto the Cubs would likely slot him around 6/7, giving them two pitchers to move forward with, in the long term, and build around.

For the Mariners, they get Hendricks for their rotation, Kimbrel to lock down the bullpen, Bryant to take over at third for the struggling Seager, and Baez to actually slide over to second and become a part of one of the most exciting double-play tandems in all of baseball. It would be rough with Seager playing less but would be an instant upgrade.

The Mariners lineup would look something like this if they added Baez and Bryant. Don’t forget, Kyle Lewis is on the IL and could be back late this year.

1. JP Crawford – SS
2. Baez – 2B
3. Kris Bryant – 1B
4. Ty France – DH
5. Mitch Haniger – RF
6. Kyle Seager – 3B
7. Jarred Kelenic – CF
8. Cal Raleigh – C
9. Jake Fraley – LF

Fraley is currently on the COVID/IL, but should be back within a week. That looks like a darn good lineup to me. Once you pair it with the new rotation, I think the Mariners instantly not only become just a playoff threat, but an actual contender.

With the Cubs seeming to be in sell mode, Kyle Hendricks seems like a solid and affordable piece to add to the rotation. The hardest part about it would be taking in his salary. If that’s something that the Mariners decided they could go for instead of spending money in the offseason then Hendricks would be a possible option.