Jeter makes first big move with the Marlins
All-Star Gordon beats Stanton out of Miami as he’s sent to the Mariners
The Marlins’ latest payroll purge began not with Giancarlo Stanton, but with Dee Gordon.
The two-time All- Star second baseman was traded Thursday to the SeattleMariners for three prospects in the first big deal involving new Marlins CEO Derek Jeter. He wants to cut payroll bymore than 20 percent to $90million or less, which is why NL MVP Stanton is also on the trading block.
Miami acquired righthander Nick Neidert, the Mariners’ No. 2 prospect, along with infielder Chris Torres and right-hander Robert Dugger. TheMarlins haven’t been to the playoffs since 2003, and they’re anxious to bolster a farmsystem that ranks among baseball’s worst.
“We need to add depth,” president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. “We need to do things to give us an opportunity to build an organization thatwe feel can win consistently. In this deal we took an All-Star caliber player in Dee Gordon, and were able to add three very talented pieces to ourminor league system.”
The Mariners get $1 million in international signing bonus pool allotment, boosting the amount they can offer Japanese star pitcher and outfielder Shohei Ohtani to a major league- high $3,557,500, just ahead of the Texas Rangers ($3,535,000). They assume Gordon’s contract, which guarantees him $38 million through 2020.
Jeter has warned of unpopular decisions this offseason, andwith fans anticipating them, he drew boos at a MiamiHeat game thisweek.
The popular Gordon batted .308 in 158 games in 2016, and had 60 stolen bases to lead the major leagues for the third time in the past four years. He won the NL batting title in 2015 when he hit .333, and also won a Gold Glove that year. He made the All-Star team in 2014 and 2015.
Gordon said he had anticipated being traded in the aftermath of ace Jose Fernandez’s fatal boat crash in September 2016.
“Bad things happened over there with the death of our good friend Jose,” Gordon said. “Honestly there’s kind of no way to rebound from that other than start over. It was built on Giancarlo and Jose, and we lost the focal point for our pitching, aguywhoweknew was going to give us a chance to win every day. Honestly in the major leagues, that’s pretty tough to win that way.”
The Marlins have agreed to the parameters of a potential Stanton trade with the San Francisco Giants. The St. Louis Cardinals have also sought the right fielder, with each team offering a package of prospects. Themajor league home run champion can veto any deal because his record $325 million, 13year contract includes a notrade clause. PETITCOMPLETESDEALWITH A’S » Yusmeiro Petit has finalized his $10million, twoyear contractwith the A’s after passing a physical. Petit is scheduled to earn $3.5 million next year and $5.5 million in 2019, and the contract includes a $5.5 million club option for 2020 with a $1million buyout. Hewill return to pitch in the Bay Area after spending the 2012-15 seasons with the Giants. Petit went 5-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 60 appearances with one start over 91 1/3 innings last season for the Angels. CUBS AGREE TO DEAL WITH CHATWOOD » Right-hander Tyler Chatwood and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a $38 million, three-year contract. Chatwood figures to slot into the rotation behind Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana. Chatwood was 8-15 with a 4.69 ERA in 33 appearances, including 25 starts, for Colorado last year.