M's Rationale: The M's need to offload Haniger's money so they can be competitive in acquiring other talent. To do so, they're going to have to attach a good prospect to him... in this case, Robert is the potential highest impact bat you could potentially get to do this. At his best, Robert is an All Star who has been on pace for 8 fWAR seasons. He's struggled with injuries so the M's add him to mostly DH and play the occasional corner OF spot where he is elite. No way around it, Robert was bad this year... .224/.278/.379/.657 and on pace for 220 K's... He had miserable months in August and September where it's rumored that he more or less quit on the team. He needs to get off the sinking ship in Chicago. Perhaps he'd thrive here and work with Edgar could do some good.
Vaughn is basically Jake Burger but younger. He's pretty much been a .250/.320/.430/.750 20 homer hitter who doesn't K at a high rate. The defense is atrocious but so was Ty France's so what are you really losing here? He's got 2 years of control left and is slated to make $4.4 million in '24... he has -$$ value on MLBTV because he's struggled to put up more than like .5 fWAR seasons. I like that he's 26 and has a solid hitting profile... just needs to improve on the D to become a 2ish win player. Something to note, Vaughn had a 124 OPS+ from June 1 forward with a .261/.318/.509/.827 slash where he hit 25 homers. That is a 42-homer pace over 162...
CWS Rationale: Chicago can afford to take on Haniger's final year while they do not intend to contend. They're going to be prospect hunting and will have to make deals like this to get the biggest return back in trades as they really don't have much to deal outside of Garrett Crochet and Robert. The Sox already have a highly-rated catcher in their farm system in Edgar Quero who has hit well at every level. Young gives them a nice MI battery moving forward between him and top prospect Colson Montgomery.
Trade 2: Mariners trade 2B Michael Arroyo ($13.5M), OF Dom Canzone ($1.2M), LHP Brandyn Garcia ($2M) to the Rays for 2B Brandon Lowe ($8.5M), RHP Pete Fairbanks ($9.1M)
M's Rationale: Lowe is a very, very good 2B when healthy. Solid defensively and an elite power hitter at the position. He also mashes lefties from the left side to the tune of an .835 OPS in '24. Lowe played in just 107 games in '24 but put up 2.2 fWAR and 21 homers. Thats 32 homers/162 and 3.3 fWAR/162. I imagine he'll cost you around something like Arroyo. The M's add another high leverage arm to the bullpen in Fairbanks in the deal. He throws 97-99 from the right side, had 48 saves over the past 2 years. He's owed $3.5 million in '25 and has an option for $7 million in '25.
Rays Rationale: From what I gather, the Rays aren't figuring on contending in '25 and will seek to move veterans for prospects. Lowe has club options of $10.5 and $11.5 million over the next 2 years. It's literally the same contract as Polanco. Fairbanks is a great pitcher but in a similar boat... little control left and making money. Arroyo gives them an exciting middle infield prospect in return for Lowe who had probably the best season of any player in the M's system. Canzone gives them a young, controlled OF with some upside in an outfield that was really bad in '24... he seems like a Ray. Garcia has to be compelling given the year he had. They have no pitching depth in their farm and he'd be the immediate top pitcher in their system.
Trade 3: Mariners trade C Harry Ford ($21.2M), RHP Emerson Hancock ($1.2M) to the Phillies for 3B Alec Bohm ($22.3M)
M's Rationale: Simple... the M's need a 3B. Bohm isn't anything elite but he's solid in pretty much every phase. He hit .280 and struck out just 86 times over 143 games. Over the last 3 seasons he's turned in a .280/.330/.450/.780 split... averages around 20 homers, has a K/BB ratio of 2:1, and plays above average D. This might be a lot to give up for Bohm considering that he was benched in the playoffs and the Phillies might let him go for less... but this is accurate to current MLBTV values. Bohm is controlled for the next 2 years and is owed $8 million in '25.
Phillies Rationale: As stated above, it seems they're looking to shop Bohm. Bohm made some in Philly mad when we was seen mouthing "I fucking hate it here" after a strikeout last season. JT Realmuto is a free agent following the '25 season, giving Ford easy access to the starting catching position in '26. Hancock slots immediately into their no. 5... he replaces Taijuan Walker who had an ERA of 7.10 over 19 games.
Lineup:
1. Victor Robles LF
2. Brandon Lowe 2B
3. Julio Rodriguez CF
4. Cal Raleigh C
5. Luis Robert DH/OF
6. Randy Arozarena RF
7. Alec Bohm 3B
8. Andrew Vaughn/Luke Raley 1B Platoon
9. JP Crawford SS
B: Mitch Garver C, Dylan Moore Util,
1. Logan Gilbert
2. George Kirby
3. Luis Castillo
4. Bryce Miller
5. Bryan Woo
CL: Andres Munoz
HL: Pete Fairbanks, Gregory Santos, Matt Brash
ML/LL: Austin Voth, Collin Snider, Troy Taylor, JT Chargois
