http://bit.ly/1SvtgbG
目前水手，金鶯正在認真談 Mark Trumbo <-> Steve Clevenger 交易
除了分攤薪水的問題外, 金鶯還想要多要一個球員
另外金鶯也在考慮 Mark Trumbo 被 Non-Tender，可以直接簽的可能
By Bob Dutton
bdutton@thenewstribune.com
SEATTLE — The Mariners, in a race to beat the clock, closed in Tuesday night
on a deal that would sent first baseman/outfielder Mark Trumbo to Baltimore
for catcher/first baseman Steve Clevenger.
Sources from both sides confirmed discussions were ongoing, although one
cautioned: "There’s still some details to be worked out."
The Orioles are believed to be demanding another player in the deal.
One hurdle complicating the talks is the salary disparity between the two
players. Trumbo is eligible for arbitration and projects to make $9.1 million
in 2016; Clevenger is not yet eligible and figures to make about $520,000.
The Orioles are also concerned, another source said, they might needlessly be
surrendering a player (Clevenger) amid speculation the Mariners could choose
not to offer a contract to Trumbo prior to Wednesday’s deadline.
Clubs must offer contracts to all unsigned players on their 40-man roster by
9 p.m. Wednesday. Those who don’t receive an offer become free agents with
no compensation to their former clubs if they sign elsewhere.
In contrast, players who receive a contract offer are considered signed
players even if their salary has yet to be negotiated. As such, they are
eligible for separation pay if subsequently released.
That compensation amounts to roughly one-sixth of a player’s salary
(30/183rds) even if he is released more than 15 days before the season starts.
In effect, an offer to Trumbo, if the Mariners don’t want to keep him, could
represent a $1.5 million gamble that he can be traded at a later date.
The Mariners have three other arbitration-eligible players: reliever Charlie
Furbush (who projects to get $1.7 million), outfielder Leonys Martin ($3.75
million) and pitcher Anthony Bass ($1.1 million).
Players not yet eligible for arbitration must also be offered contracts but —
as is the case with Clevenger — they have little negotiating leverage and
typically sign for the major-league minimum ($507,500) or slightly more.
The Mariners’ desire to trade Trumbo, a proven power hitter who averaged 26
homers over the last five years, stems from a belief that he is a poor fit in
their quest to build a more athletic, better defensive club.
Dipoto reached the same conclusion roughly two years ago when, as general
manager of the Los Angeles Angels, he traded Trumbo to Arizona in a
three-team deal that involved six players.
The Mariners held multiple discussions with the Orioles and Colorado Rockies
over the last two weeks in an effort to trade Trumbo. When talks with the
Rockies stalled, the Mariners pushed harder with the Orioles.
Clevenger, 29, is a left-handed hitter who is out of options. He batted .287
last season in 30 games for the Orioles but spent much of the year at
Triple-A Norfolk, where he batted .305 in 75 games.
A seventh-round pick by the Chicago in 2006, he reached the majors in 2011. A
July 2013 trade brought Clevenger to the Orioles in a four-player swap that
sent Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta to the Cubs.
Clevenger has a .228 career average in 148 games over parts of five
big-league seasons, but he has a .310 average in 733 minor-league games over
10 years.
Trumbo batted .263 last season with 13 homers and 41 RBIs in 96 games after
joining the the Mariners with pitcher Vidal Nuno from Arizona in a June 3
trade.
The Diamondbacks received catcher Welington Castillo, reliever Dominic Leone
and two minor-league players: outfielder Gabby Guerrero and infielder Jack
Reinheimer.
That trade represented an effort by the Mariners’ previous regime to
jump-start what, at that point, was a struggling attack. But Trumbo got off
to a dreadful start at 11-for-79 in his first 22 games.
Trumbo then rallied by batting .302 over his final 74 games with 12 homers
and 36 RBIs. Overall, he finished last season at .262 in 142 games with 22
homers and RBIs.