Mariners Rumors: Trading with the Twins for Nelson Cruz

There are all kind of rumors, hopes, wants, and pipe dreams about what teams could do as they approach the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline. For the Mariners, it’s still hard to tell what they plan on doing.

Well, that is, unless you believe what Dipoto said recently. To summarize, he mentioned that the team wasn’t going to mortgage their window long-term, would try and acquire a shorter-term pitcher that could possibly help through 2022, and then go out and look for a cheap bat.

Well, there just so happens to be someone, someone familiar with the Mariners, who fits that second description. He’s an older player, so he doesn’t have much long-term value. He’s only signed through 2021. The team he is on looks to be legit sellers and doesn’t really have a reason to keep him.

The Mariners should go after… Nelson Cruz

Although his production has slowed of late, Nelson Cruz could still provide an offensive upgrade for the Mariners. Through June, Cruz was hitting a white-hot .307/.378/.585 with 18 home runs and 44 RBI, along with 11 doubles.

July was a bit rougher, but he still managed to hit .235/.349/.314. That’s a lot better than a few of the current Mariners still. Check out some of these July averages from Mariners who play regularly.

• Dylan Moore – .157
• Shed Long Jr – .154
• Jake Bauers – .189

I know that Nelson Cruz can only play DH, but the Mariners have so many guys that can move around the field, even getting July Nelson Cruz would be a big upgrade. Here’s a couple of offers the Mariners could make for Cruz. Now, I’ve tried going with Trade Values, the heart, the mind, logic, all of um. Someone always gets upset. Here goes.

Here’s the thing. I know that there are a handful of teams out there that are going to want Nelson Cruz. What I don’t want the team to do is give up too much of their depth or a higher-level prospect in exchange for Cruz. Could teams get scared off by his struggle lately? Quite possibly. We’ve seen deals similar to these in the past, where a team will give up a middling prospect at the deadline for a two-month rental.

The Mariners are looking to make a short-term improvement by giving up a prospect that is mid-to-low in their rankings, which could still have a bit of an impact potentially down the line. That’s what I looked at here. Mills could be a part of their bullpen next year as they try and go back to the playoffs. Elliott or Fletcher could become a part of next year’s starting rotation, whether it’s as a fill-in or a bottom of the rotation guy. Polcovich has been flying up prospect rankings and could become a utility guy for the Twins.

Are any of those great, mind-blowing trades? No. If you think that the Twins are going to get anything great for him (Kirby, Raleigh, Phillps and Shenton), then you are being unrealistic. I’m not saying that the Mariners will get Cruz for any of these trades. In fact, this is the extent that the Mariners should make offers to get a player like Cruz.