NEWSLETTER
A significant chunk of the Padres’ outfield glut may be about to resolve itself, with the Mariners the benefactor.
According to Shannon Drayer, the Mariners are close to picking up Seth Smith from the Padres. Bob Nightengale suggests that righty Brandon Maurer could be a piece going back to the Padres. Maurer is a 24-year-old with a good fastball, and who had solid peripherals pitching out of Seattle’s pen last year. You would think the Padres would be getting more, though I don’t want to sell Maurer short – he’s been a top ten Mariners prospect for a little while now.
As for Smith, he of the team-friendly extension (signed just a few months ago), his lefty bat would pair nicely in a platoon with former Cubs outfielder Justin Ruggiano, whom the Mariners acquired from the Cubs for minor league reliever Matt Brazis a couple weeks ago. Smith makes all the sense in the world for the Mariners, and, as much as I would have liked to have seen the Cubs try to add his bat and answer questions later, I’ll admit that it was always a slightly tricky fit.
The opportunities to add a significant bat, however, are dwindling.
As for the Padres, we’ll see what they get in the final deal. Assuming Maurer is involved, it could help their bullpen for 2015 (and beyond), which is just another slight improvement to a team that keeps incrementally improving as the weeks go by.
