MLB Trade Rumors: Jean Segura/Carlos Santana deal done

MLB Trade Rumors: Jean Segura from Seattle to Philadelphia for Carlos Santana and J.P. Crawford has been swirling as a rumor for some time, and multiple reports are indicating that the deal is close to being done.

The Seattle Mariners, who are also finalizing a deal that is sending Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets, and who earlier this offseason dealt James Paxton and Mike Zunino, are continuing to completely remake their team on the fly, moving veteran pieces aggressively. The 28 year old Segura, who just completed the first year of a 5 year, $70 million contract extension, has a no trade clause he would have to waive, but is expected to do so.

For the Phillies, this allows them to address an infield situation that was problematic in 2018 — Segura has been worth 13.0 bWAR over the last three seasons — while unloading the $40 million Santana is due in 2019-20, which also opens up first base for Rhys Hoskins. Santana played well for Philadelphia after an awful start, but their corner outfield and first base log jam was such that they needed to move someone, and packaging Santana with former top prospect Crawford, who has disappointed in his brief major league stints, allows them to do that.

The Mariners are supposedly going to send another veteran to offset some of the money they are adding in Santana, though rumors that that veteran was Anthony Swarzak, who is set to go to Seattle in the Cano trade, are being shot down.

We shall have to see what other pieces are involved in this deal, but the M’s appear to be getting a decent veteran first baseman and a young major league ready shortstop for Segura, which should leave them in a reasonable position for 2019.

UPDATE — The trade is official. Santana and Crawford go to Seattle for Segura, James Pazos and Juan Nicasio. Pazos is a 27 year old middling lefty reliever who is making the league minimum. Nicasio is a 32 year old righty reliever who had a 6.00 ERA last year and is making $9.25 million in 2019. He’s included to offset the salary the M’s are taking on with Santana.