Phillies Twitter is buzzing regarding a rumored trade for Jean Segura
With the Seattle Mariners shipping out their best players to kick off their rebuild, the Phillies are reportedly interested in shortstop Jean Segura.
The 28-year-old has hit .300 or better in each of his last three seasons, and in 2016 he led the league with 203 hits.
Segura would be a major offensive upgrade for the Phillies at shortstop
Philadelphia hasn’t had a shortstop that has hit over .270 since Jimmy Rollins in 2008, and no shortstop has hit at least .300 since Alex Arias in 1999.
Adding a player like Segura won’t come cheap, and our sister site SodoMojo says they believe the price for Segura will be higher than people think.
If the Phillies are acquiring a shortstop, that almost guarantees former top prospect J.P. Crawford is involved. Once a top-five prospect in baseball Crawford hasn’t hit or stayed healthy when given his opportunity. Gabe Kapler gave Crawford the opening day shortstop job, but a broken hand, forearm strain, and .214 batting average may have cost him a chance to play in Philadelphia.
Hope isn’t lost for Crawford, but the Phillies can’t wait for him to develop. Seattle, on the other hand, can give Crawford a couple years with no expectations.
Carlos Santana is another player rumored in a potential deal in order to move Rhys Hoskins back to first base.
Seattle has Ryon Healy at first base, but not designated hitter with Nelson Cruz being a free agent. Healy and Santana combined to make 18 errors at first base last year, but right now the Mariners are more concerned with adding assets than winning games.
The Phillies can offer up Santana and cash in this deal and the Mariners can flip Santana down the road for more prospects. The more money Philadelphia pays for Santana’s contract the easier it will be for Seattle to trade him in the future.
After those two it’ll likely come down to a couple of prospects. JoJo Romero, Jhaylin Ortiz, and Arquimedes Gamboa feel like potential fits in this deal. I’m personally unwilling to move recent first round picks Adam Haseley, Alec Bohm, and Mickey Moniak in a deal for Segura. Of those three I’m more willing to move Moniak, the number one overall pick in 2016.
I’m only moving Haseley for a superstar because I think his bat will get him to the big leagues quickly and he can make an impact either in left or center field.
Seattle likely wants a pitcher either in the big leagues or knocking on the doorstep. Would the Phillies move Enyel De Los Santos or Ranger Suarez to Seattle? I don’t see Zach Eflin getting moved considering the organization pulled him back on a Manny Machado deal. Nick Pivetta’s job feels safe, and Vince Velasquez is more of a mystery to other teams than a proven option.
So what’s a fair price for a shortstop with an above-average bat?
I would feel comfortable making that trade if I’m the Phillies, but I think it’ll end up costing a little bit more than their seventh and eighth best prospects, plus Santana and a former top prospect.
Perhaps De Los Santos pushes the deal over the top.