NASHVILLE — The Winter Meetings don’t officially begin until Monday morning, but as reporters and executives mingled at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center late Sunday night, the Braves and Mariners got the party started.
Seattle traded outfielder Jarred Kelenic, left-hander Marco Gonzales and first baseman Evan White to Atlanta in exchange for right-handers Cole Phillips and Jackson Kowar.
Instantly, fans and reporters on social media started to connect the dots. The Mariners have been slashing payroll all winter and need bats, stocked with the pitching depth to theoretically make a splashy trade.
Could Seattle be a contender in the Juan Soto sweepstakes? A trade would certainly be up the alley of Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto…
Time will tell if Seattle decides to go all out for Soto. Truthfully, acquiring the outfielder feels like a long shot for most teams, including the Mariners. Only two clubs are currently viewed as the favorites to strike a deal, if he is actually moved: the Yankees and Blue Jays.
While the Yankees and Padres have started to exchange names on a possible Soto blockbuster, the two clubs reportedly reached a stalemate in negotiations over the weekend. SNY, The Athletic and the New York Post each reported that a significant gap exists between the haul that the Padres want for Soto and what the Yankees are willing to offer. According SNY’s Andy Martino and others, San Diego wants right-handers Michael King and Drew Thope along with four or five others prospects for Soto.
Those talks may have stalled, but more conversations during the Winter Meetings this week could quickly point both parties in the right direction.
Toronto is also striving to inject some star power into their lineup after a disappointing season in 2023, aiming to please a dissatisfied fan base. But like the Yankees, the Blue Jays need to decide if the necessary package of prospects — and Soto’s $30 million-plus contract for 2024 —…
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