Mock Trade: LA Angels and Miami Marlins

The LA Angels are in dire need of a starting second baseman who can both field and also be a productive pat of the Angels line-up.  However in order to get something you have to be willing to give something up in return. Here is my idea.

The trade is one that has been talked about some in the past couple of weeks by LA Angels fans and beat writers. It involves the Marlins 2nd baseman Dee Gordon. Gordon is a second baseman which is a position the Angels desperately need.  I think the Angels can get him with not having to give up as much as you may think.  The reason is a somewhat bad contract.

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Gordon just signed a deal last season that will go through 2020 with a club option for 2021. This deal worth $52,000,000 will automatically vest if he gets 600 plate in 2020.  This contract is higher than what it should be based on Gordon’s production.

Now there are two schools of though here. The first is to pay the high salaries over the next four to five years. The other is negotiate a deal that will cause the Angels to have to give up more for Gordon, but in return the Marlins would have to pay more of his $50,000,000 price tag.

So here is the deal:

I’m going with the approach of getting some money from the Marlins to help pay for some Dee Gordon’s remaining contract as well as giving the Marlins a proven third baseman who has a high average and can get on base consistently. In addition the Marlins get a catching prospect as they do not have that in their farm system. Taylor Ward fits that bill.  The Marlins make ask for another prospect in return and if that is the case the Angels can also throw in Brandon Sanger.

What the Angels will get is a player with tremendous speed who can hit lead-off or possibly even bat second. Gordon can do both as he has averaged 47 stolen bases per season over the last four years.  Gordon also has a respectable .326 OBP and has .985 fielding percentage in 462 games at second base.

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The Marlins would get the expiring contract of Yunel Escobar who they could choose to resign for a year until one of their two third base prospects is ready.  Escobar has a career .283 batting average and .350 OBP.  He would fit nicely into a line-up that already has Justin Bour and Giancarlo Stanton.  Ward is a very good catching prospect that should be ready by 2019 or 2020 when current catcher J.T. Realmuto is ready to test free agency. Realmuto may price himself out of the Marlins range if he continues to do well (.303 in 86 games).

If the Marlins insist on getting a little more the Angels can also include outfielder Brandon Sanger who is starting to come on this season. Sanger hit .280 with 10 homers and 42 RBI’s in half a season in Single-A.  He has now been promoted to Double-A Mobile and could also be ready by 2019 or 2020.

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While it is hard to lose two good prospects you have to give something to get something. Gordon would be a good one to have because he will not be just a rental. Gordon will be a long-term solution just like Andrelton Simmons is at shortstop since he is only 29 and will be under club control through 2021.

We will see if the Angels decide to play let’s make a deal. Hopefully they will.