Let the firesale commence. With rumors swirling about that the new Miami Marlins ownership group is set to cut a ton of payroll, the first shoe has apparently dropped.
No. It’s not Giancarlo Stanton. Instead, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthall is reporting that Miami has traded two-time All-Star infielder Dee Gordon to the Seattle Mariners.
Source: #Mariners acquire Dee Gordon from #Marlins.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2017
Gordon, 29, hit a robust .308 with an NL-best 60 stolen bases and 114 runs scored for the Marlins last season. Remember, it was just a couple short seasons ago that Gordon led the Senior Circuit with a .333 average.
The veteran has played the vast majority of his career at second base. That’s a position Robinson Cano has held down for the Mariners for the past four seasons. It’s in this that Gordon is expected to play center in Seattle.
Dee Gordon will play CF for the #Mariners according to club source
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) December 7, 2017
Gordon is set to make north of $52 million over the next four seasons. That’s the primary reason a rebuilding Marlins squad decided to move him.
In return, the Marlins receive to of the Mariners’ top-10 prospects.
#Mariners acquire two-time All-Star Dee Gordon and international slot money from Miami in exchange for minor leaguers Robert Dugger, Nick Neidert and Christopher Torres.
Read: https://t.co/NaAJkGlJRP pic.twitter.com/sfht5DxjpP
— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) December 7, 2017
It’s also important to note that Seattle picked up international slot money in its attempt to land this high-profile Japanese player.