Phillies fans are very familiar with the stories of the two players who are headed out to the Pacific Northwest, so I won’t spend time regurgitating the details of their careers.
Segura is the obvious centerpiece of the deal from a Phillies perspective. He upgrades the shortstop position immediately. Nicasio is a 32-year-old veteran right-handed reliever who doesn’t beat himself with walks, and who is owed just one year at $9.25 million on his contract.
Pazos, the “third” piece in the deal coming to the Phillies, is the player in this deal with whom fans are least likely to have some familiarity. While he is not a lights-out closer-type pitcher, he is far more than a simple throw-in on the back-end of a big deal.
Pazos is a 27-year-old native of Gilbert, Arizona who was the New York Yankees 13th round selection in the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of San Diego. His big-league debut came in 2015 and he would make 18 total appearances with the Yankees over two seasons.
On November 18, 2016 the Yankees dealt the southpaw to the Mariners in a straight-up deal for right-handed pitching prospect Zack Littell. New York would subsequently flip Littell to the Minnesota Twins in the July 2017 trade for veteran starting pitcher Jaime Garcia.
Over the last two seasons Pazos has become a key member of the Mariners bullpen. He has allowed just 98 hits over 103.2 innings across 119 games with a 3.39 ERA, 3.83 FIP, and a 1.322 WHIP during those two seasons.
“Pazos’ inclusion in the deal is curious but speaks to his struggles and lost velocity at the end of last season. The big lefty’s fastball slowly deteriorated from upper 90s down to low 90s and still no ability to consistently spot what was labeled an average breaking ball. The Mariners said publicly that it was a mechanical issue that led to the decrease, but some people in the organization worried that he was dealing with an injury.” ~ Ryan Divish, Seattle Times
While Pazos isn’t the kind of power lefty that free agents Andrew Miller or Zach Britton, both of whom remain on the Phillies radar, would bring he is a steady option from that side for manager Gabe Kapler to use in the match-up game that the skipper prefers.
However, Pazos was actually much more effective in 2018 against right-handed batters than against left-handers. The righties hit just .228 against him over 125 plate appearances while lefties hit him at a .280 mark in 86 plate appearances. Per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia he was often a one-pitch hurler last season.
If you’re worried that his success might have been a product of the favorable pitching environment at Safeco Field, which ranked 27th of 30 MLB ballparks in runs allowed during this past season, don’t. Opposing hitters got to Pazos for just a .233 batting average against on the road while hitting him at a .263 mark in Seattle.
He also brings financial affordability for his experience level. Pazos made just over a half-million dollars for the 2018 season. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until after next season, and cannot become a free agent until after the 2022 campaign.
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Jamie Moyer was an important pitcher in both Phillies and Mariners history
The Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners appear to be on the verge of a significant trade. If the rumors are true, this deal should be announced at some point later today.
In the deal, the Phillies would reportedly be sending first baseman Carlos Santana, young shortstop J.P. Crawford, and possibly a prospect to the Mariners in exchange for shortstop Jean Segura and a relief pitcher.
Assuming the deal is indeed completed, this would be the 11th trade between the Phillies and Mariners. It would mark the 16th transaction overall involving the two clubs dating back to even prior to Seattle playing their first-ever game as an expansion team in the 1977 season.
In that initial Philly-Seattle transaction on November 6, 1976, the Mariners purchased the contract of pitcher John Montague from the Phillies. It would be the last transaction involving the two clubs for nearly seven years.
On July 29, 1983 the Phillies purchased a 29-year-old righty relief pitcher from Seattle, one who would help them nail down the 1983 NL East crown and National League pennant. That reliever would spend parts of the next three years with the Phillies before a trade to Houston.
He would return as a free agent to help the 1993 Phillies win their next NL pennant, and has grown to become a beloved figure as a broadcaster with the team. I’m talking about none other than ‘LA’ himself, Larry Andersen.
More than four years later the Phillies and Mariners completed their first-ever actual trade. The Phillies sent popular veteran outfielder Glenn Wilson and a reliever who would become one of baseball’s best over the next decade, Michael Jackson, to Seattle in exchange for outfielder Phil Bradley and a prospect.
Following a couple of minor deals in the early-1990’s, the next interesting Phillies-Mariners trade came at the non-waiver deadline in the 1996 season. Veteran lefty starter Terry Mulholland was dealt to the Mariners in exchange for shortstop prospect Desi Relaford.
Mulholland and another lefty obtained by Seattle from the Boston Red Sox that year, Jamie Moyer, would help a Seattle team that featured Ken Griffey Jr.Alex Rodriguez, and Edgar Martinez make a late charge before finishing in second place to the Texas Rangers in the AL West. Relaford became the Phillies starting shortstop for a couple of years before yielding the position to Jimmy Rollins.
There were a couple of minor deals between the two teams over the next few years, but it would be a decade before another impact trade. That one came down on August 19, 2006 when the Phillies obtained Moyer for a pair of inconsequential prospects.
Moyer would become a key starter with his hometown team as the Phillies won the first four of what would be five consecutive NL East crowns. The crafty veteran lefty was a member of the starting rotation with the back-to-back National League pennant winners, including the 2008 World Series champions.
Cliff Lee was dealt to Mariners in December 2009, something for which many Phillies fans never forgave GM Ruben Amaro Jr.
A little more than three years later the two clubs swung another big deal involving a left-handed starter. This time it was the Mariners getting the better of the deal when they acquired Cliff Lee in exchange for three prospects, none of whom ever made an impact with the Phillies.
The Lee trade is considered one of the best in Mariners history. Meanwhile, for Phillies fans it was bittersweet, coming on the same day that the club had acquired Roy Halladay in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Lee would ultimately return a year later as a free agent. He would finally team with Halladay and help the 2011 Phillies compile the best regular season record in franchise history as a member of the ‘Four Aces’ rotation with Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt.
That Lee trade nearly a decade ago is the last significant deal between the two organizations. There has been one prior trade between the two teams during the terms of current general managers Matt Klentak and Jerry Dipoto.
On March 11, 2017, Klentak sent a minor league first baseman named Joey Curletta to Dipoto and Seattle. In exchange the Phillies GM received ambidextrous reliever Pat Venditte, who is now a free agent.
Sometime on Monday we will get the details of the latest trade between the Phillies and Mariners. While the two clubs don’t make many deals, they have proven significant on occasion. Only time will tell whether this deal falls into that category or proves relatively insignificant over the long haul.
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Could Segura be bringing his speed and shortstop play to the Phillies soon?
The Seattle Mariners are easily the busiest team in Major League Baseball to this point in the Hot Stove season. Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto has already pulled off two deals, and is now reportedly on the verge of at least two more.
On November 8, Dipoto sent catcher Mike Zunino and two others to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for outfielder Mallex Smith and a prospect.
Less than two weeks later he traded away pitcher James Paxton to the New York Yankees, receiving pitching prospect Justus Sheffield as part of a three-prospect package.
The big story over the last 24 hours has been the finalization of a deal between the Mariners and New York Mets. In that trade, reports have the Mets new GM Brodie Van Wagenen sending veteran outfielder Jay Bruce, reliever Anthony Swarzak, and a pair of recent first round draft picks in outfielder Jarred Kelenicand pitcher Justin Dunn to Seattle.
Headed to the Big Apple in the deal would be veteran second baseman Robinson Cano along with the best relief pitcher in the game last year, Edwin Diaz.
Numerous reports are now saying that the deal could go down this weekend at some point, but certainly by Monday at the latest. The two teams apparently have settled on the players involved. Now they are sorting out financials, such as whether and how much money would be exchanged to help alleviate contract concerns regarding Cano, as well as player physicals.
The Mariners are also rumored to be involved with the Phillies in trade talks involving shortstop Jean Segura. In fact, a heavy Mariners follower on Twitter, Trent Hadler, tweeted early on Friday morning that a Segura to the Phillies deal could come down soon.
How good Hadler’s information is, if at all, and who is the “insider’ providing it remains unknown. I contacted him today, and Hadler told me that he had information from someone inside the Mariners organization who had previously been reliable. That source was stating that the only holdup to the deal was the prospect(s) going back to Seattle from the Phillies in the deal.
MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweeted later this afternoon that the Phillies could still be in on Segura. If there is any credence to it, there would be major ramifications for the Phillies.
#Phillies showed interest in Jean Segura-Edwin Diaz package from #Mariners, sources tell The Athletic. Might still have interest in Segura alone if Diaz-Cano to #Mets goes through.
First off, who would be going to the Mariners? There has been talk in recent days that Seattle was interested in Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin. If that happens, it could be a simple straight-up deal. Same if it turns out the J.P. Crawford is the player head to the Pacific Northwest. If the Phillies move any prospect from the top of their list, it would most likely be pitcher Adonis Medina.
Besides the player going to Seattle in return, how would the Phillies then shuffle around their other infielders? If Crawford stays, you might see the Phillies keep Segura at this natural shortstop position, put Scott Kingery back at second base, and stay with Maikel Franco at third base. That would leave Crawford as either a super-utility player or even back as the starting shortstop at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, at least to open the season.
But…what then happens with Manny Machado? Does an acquisition of Segura mean that the Phillies are out on the superstar free agent? Maybe. Maybe not. The Phillies could still sign Machado and then play either he or Segura at third base. Or they could shuffle Segura over to second, and play Machado at short with Franco or Kingery at third.
Phillies general manager Matt Klentak could also still jump back in on Diaz if the Mets deal somehow falls through, though that appears a longshot at this point.
Segura will turn 29-years-old during spring training. He is signed at $14.85 million per year through 2022 when he will be 32 years of age. There is a further $17 million team option for 2023 with a $1 million buyout.
An all-star in both the National League (2013) and American League (2018), Segura has averaged 10 homers, 50 RBI, 78 runs scored, and 27 steals over his six full big-league seasons. He comes with a career .287/.327/.404 career slash line, and has been particularly effective over the last three seasons during which he has accumulated a 13 WAR total.
Defensively, Segura has spent most of his career at the shortstop position. However, he was the Arizona Diamondbacks starting second baseman during the 2016 campaign. Fangraphs has him at 11th in all of baseball in their shortstop defensive rankings for the 2018 season.
In any event, the Hot Stove is roaring as the calendar flips to December at midnight. If the Phillies do anything quickly it would likely be a Segura deal with Seattle and/or a free agent signing of pitcher Patrick Corbin. The left-hander appears to be making his final decision between the Phillies, the New York Yankees, and the Washington Nationals.
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Diaz was baseball’s top closer and will be just 26-years-old in the 2019 season
If you’ve been outside over the last few days here in the Philadelphia area then you know it’s been pretty cold and windy. While winter doesn’t offically arrive for nearly a month (December 21), it is effectively here already.
But go inside and turn on a TV or your PC or laptop or just tap your phone. That warmth you feel isn’t just from your heater working its magic. If you’re a baseball fan, the Hot Stove is fired up, and the rumor mill is heating up the internet.
One of the hotter stories over the last few days has been the Seattle Mariners willingness to trade young stud closer Edwin Diaz. It was exactly one week ago that our Tim Kelly first reported the news that the Phillies were interested in not only Diaz, but Mariners infielder Jean Segura as well.
Just yesterday, Kelly was back into the story, hinting that Seattle might try to pursuade the Phillies to take on the enormous Robinson Cano contract obligation in any deal for Diaz.
Now as a further update, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has reported that the Phillies are indeed in on Diaz. However, it appears that GM Matt Klentak has no interest in eating that big Cano deal as a side dish.
Sources: 2B Jeff McNeil in play for #Mariners as well as Kellenic/Dunn in potential Cano/Diaz trade with #Mets. #Phillies also talking to SEA, possibly just for Diaz, as @JoelSherman1 said. NYM names would seem difficult to top, but hard to judge without knowing $, full details.
I believe that making a move on Diaz is a good one for the Phillies in theory. The right-hander will turn just 25-years-old as spring training draws to a close in 2019, and he cannot become a free agent until after the 2022 campaign. So he fits perfectly in with the plan as the Phillies put together a long-term contender.
However, the price is going to be exorbitant. Serious rumors are floating around that the division-rival New York Mets are deep into talks with the Mariners involving Diaz and Cano, possibly with someone like Jay Bruce going to Seattle.
Those rumors have New York willing to send their #3 and #4 prospects as part of a package to Seattle. Those would be the Mets 2016 top draft pick Justin Dunn, a righty pitcher, and their 2018 top draft pick, outfielder Jarred Kelenic.
Is Diaz worth all of this? If he is going to cost the Phillies a couple of their top prospects, then the answer has to be a resounding no. There are plenty of talented relievers available via trade or as free agents this off-season, a number of them with closing experience.
The Mariners are sure to find a trading partner for Diaz. And Klentak is right in picking up the phone and seeing what Jerry Dipoto would want in return. But you might be more likely to find the Phillies working out a deal for soon-to-be 28-year-old outfielder Mitch Haniger than Diaz.
Stay tuned here at Phillies Nation. We’re sitting warm and toasty by the increasingly hot stove, and we’ll heat up your social media feed with any hot new information and breaking news.
On November 26th, 1996 the Phillies made one of their better trades of the losing late-90’s period. On that Tuesday, 27-year old reliever Toby Borland, coming off two solid middle relief seasons, was sent to the New York Mets along with 26-year old reliever Ricardo Jordan.
The Phillies received 26-year old 1st baseman Rico Brogna in return. Brogna had once been a touted prospect in the Detroit Tigers system, their 1st round pick in the 1988 Draft. Despite a 1992 cup of coffee in Detroit, he was never able to live up to his potential, and was swapped to New York during Spring Training of 1994.
With the Phillies, Brogna would be given a full-time starting role. From 1997-99, the lefty hit .266 with 64 homers and 287 rbi. He also provided a strong glove at 1st base.
Rico Brogna was good enough to play in the Majors, though not good enough to help the team become a winner. But neither Borland or Jordan amounted to anything, so the deal has to be considered a solid win for the Phils.
The Phillies released Brogna in August of 2000, and after a couple of brief stops in Boston and Atlanta, his playing career was over following the 2001 season.
But Brogna was a bright, articulate guy with a passion for the game. He moved into a developmental role as a minor league coach and manager, and also did some scouting.
Earlier this year, Brogna was brought in to help out Angels’ GM Jerry DiPoto, a friend from both their days playing together in the Mets organization and coaching in the Diamondbacks organization.
Beginning the season as a Special Assistant to the GM, he became the official Quality Control Coach in August. In this new role he studies video, analyzes data, and then applies those to concrete things like positioning the defense and helping the hitters put together a plan at the plate.
As with many players who might only have had a modest role or who produced mediocre results during the playing careers, Brogna has been able to parlay his 9 years of experience in the Big Leagues with his natural communication gifts and intelligence to create a role for himself in the game.
