Robinson Cano Felix Hernandez are commercial baits

SEATTLE – Jerry Dipoto spoke to the teams about the potential of trading Robinson Cano. This should not surprise anyone, as the Mariners general manager has acknowledged from the first day of the off season that he would be open to any idea of ​​reworking his lineup to better position Seattle for a legitimate playoff hike in the playoffs. the next 2 days. -3 years.

Dipoto made it clear that no player was immune from criticism, although he had repeatedly noticed that he would need to be blown away in all of offers for young players like Edwin Diaz, Mitch Haniger and Marco Gonzales. These are the new basic pieces he wants to build on.

SEATTLE – Jerry Dipoto spoke to the teams about the potential of trading Robinson Cano. This should not surprise anyone, as the Mariners general manager has acknowledged from the first day of the off season that he would be open to any idea of ​​reworking his lineup to better position Seattle for a legitimate playoff hike in the playoffs. the next 2 days. -3 years.

Dipoto made it clear that no player was immune from criticism, although he had repeatedly noticed that he would need to be blown away in all of offers for young players like Edwin Diaz, Mitch Haniger and Marco Gonzales. These are the new basic pieces he wants to build on.

• Can mariners and dishes succeed in a blockbuster of Cano?

And that's exactly why the old core of Cano, Felix Hernandez and Nelson Cruz could soon be former sailors.

Video: Johns on sailors' projects after Paxton trading

Dipoto already seems to have left Cruz, who at 38 is now the best appointed hitter in the free agent market. Cano and Hernandez remain on the sailors' payroll and both are readily available via trade, but with great caveats. Or more precisely, big contracts.

Although the name of Hernandez has not yet been mentioned in commercial rumors as much as Cano, the Mariners would surely deal with King Felix if another team was willing to shoulder some of the $ 27 million owed to that 32-man player. years in the last year. of his contract.

The same goes for Cano, which has more current value than Hernandez, but also a longer-term financial obligation, with five years and $ 120 million remaining for its initial $ 240 million 10-year deal.

Dipoto has spoken to Cano teams, including Yankees and Mets, although no agreement seems imminent. Talking is not expensive during the Hot Stove season, even if the contracts are not. Many teams exchange ideas at this time of the year, but few of them ended up pulling the trigger.

Dipoto, however, is not hesitant to take action under any circumstances, having created 82 trades in the 38 months since taking over the Mariners after the 2015 season. Two of his biggest trades took place on last month, sending James Paxton to the Yankees and Mike Zunino to the rays in the movements have oriented more towards '20' and '21' than next season.

Video: Callis discusses browser return for Paxton

Paxton and Zunino both still have two years of team control, but Dipoto decided that a step backward this season to join forces for the future made more sense than continuing on the same track trying to recharge one's batteries towards an expensive and aging life. group of 30 years.

That's why Hernandez could certainly be moved even for a minimal return. The longstanding face of the franchise briefly lost its place in the rotation in August until an injury to Paxton opened the door on his return. But after a performance of 8-14 with an ERA of 5.55, Hernandez is a lock for no rotation, especially for a future-oriented rebuild.

Video: Felix Hernandez and his future with the Mariners

Hernandez may deny any trading as a 10-5 veteran, but given his desire to stay away and try his luck for the first time in his playoff career, it's hard to beat him. imagine refusing an opportunity to start another team. if the opportunity arises.

Sailors may be willing to relocate Hernandez without much return, given its production and salary. Cano is in another boat, since he was still quite efficient at 35 years old last year. Even though he missed 80 games due to his suspension, he posted a .303 / .374 / .471 line with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs. Although the Mariners struggled in the final stretch, Cano hit .317 / .363 / .497 with six homers and 27 RBIs in 41 games on his return.

While the Mariners would certainly like to get out of Cano's contract, they are in no hurry to withdraw their offensive production. He had the highest base percentage of the club last year, was the second (from one point) to Jean Segura on average batting and third behind Cruz and Haniger as a percentage of slugging.

After five years of contract, Cano could possibly be part of the long-term core that Dipoto builds around him, especially if the long-time second baseman is willing and able to move to first base or a DH role.

So the reports from the browsers including Diaz or best prospect Kyle Lewis in a package with Cano to induce another team like the Yankees or Mets to win the All-Star title eight times seems to miss out on Dipoto's intentions.

The Mariners do not desperately want to move Cano, and they certainly are not looking to give up Diaz or Lewis to get rid of the payroll, because they represent exactly the type of long-term assets that Seattle seeks to acquire.

As Dipoto likes to say, "Never say never." He will surely be listening to all the offers and his group of baseball operations is known for his willingness to think outside the box. But any agreement for Cano would be done in the perspective of adding for the future, not just to subtract from the present.

The possibility of improving the flexibility of the payroll is certainly an important element of this equation. This is the reason why Dipoto has to decide what amount of contract he would be willing to eat. The more money an acquiring team takes with the Cano deal, the less likely it is to sell value to potential customers.

This is a tricky line to cross for both sides of any deal involving a player of caliber and Cano contract. That's why, for the moment at least, it's all about speech.