House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves targeting a mystery player for a trade?

By Alan Carpenter

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 20: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners hits a solo home run off of starting pitcher Andrew Cashner #54 of the Texas Rangers during the third inning of a game at Safeco Field on September 20, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 20: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners hits a solo home run off of starting pitcher Andrew Cashner #54 of the Texas Rangers during the third inning of a game at Safeco Field on September 20, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 20: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners hits a solo home run off of starting pitcher Andrew Cashner #54 of the Texas Rangers during the third inning of a game at Safeco Field on September 20, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 20: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners hits a solo home run off of starting pitcher Andrew Cashner #54 of the Texas Rangers during the third inning of a game at Safeco Field on September 20, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

ATHLETICS

While the Cardinals now have Marcell Ozuna, that gave them a surplus of outfielders, and it appears Stephen Piscotty will be their odd-man out.

But this isn’t about him... for Piscotty is looking like he may soon be a member of the Oakland A’s.

If that’s the case, then one of two other OF’s in Oakland could be immediately available:

  • Matt Joyce.  Joyce is 33 and is signed through 2018 at a reasonable $6 million.  In 2017, he hit 25 dingers, went for a 117 OPS+, .808 OPS, and hit ..243.  On defense?  Kinda average.
  • Khris Davis.  Davis would be a little surprising, since he’s been strong for Oakland.  .247 with 85 homers in the past 2 seasons… despite striking out a ton.

One more… a true under-the-radar pick:

MARINERS

If you’re thinking ‘trade’, then you almost have to allow for the possibility that Jerry DiPoto might want to do something… different.

Last week, they acquired Dee Gordon, ostensibly to play center field.  So that could create a crowded situation in their outfield.

  • Mitch Haniger.  Busted out a bit in 2017, hitting 16 homers in 96 games with a 2.5 WAR and .282 BA (up from .229 in limited action with Arizona in 2016).  The numbers that stand out, though, are these:  129 wRC+ and .843 OPS.

His defense is not bad overall, though had a spate of errors in 2017 in right field.  But if you want to find a dark horse trade candidate… he’s probably it (though Seattle would be chasing a starting pitcher if Haniger were truly made available).

Next: The prior round of rumors

Any more guesses?  This will be fun to watch over the next couple of weeks… and for sure, the rest of the sport still has a lot of work left to do, both before and after Christmas.

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