Milwaukee Brewers: Kyle Seager, trade target?

The Seattle Mariners are ready to do ‘whatever it takes’ to deal third baseman Kyle Seager. Should the Milwaukee Brewers look to made a trade?

Having just dealt Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, and Alex Colome, third baseman Kyle Seager will likely become the next name to leave the Seattle Mariners.

The Milwaukee Brewers showed that they would deal for a third baseman and move Travis Shaw to second base last year when they acquired Mike Moustakas. The team hasn’t ruled out a reunion with Moustakas and another move for Shaw. Why not look to add another third baseman without giving up a top prospect.

How was Seager in 2018?

Not good. Seager slashed .221/..273/.400 with 22 homers and 78 RBIs. Last year was easily Seager’s worst as a professional, as he posted a career low 1.6 WAR.

His walk rate dipped to 6.0%, his strikeout rate was over 20% for the first time in his Major League career, and his .251 BABIP was 30 points lower than his career average. It was pretty much a perfect storm for an awful season at the plate.

However, his defensive metrics were unaffected. Seager graded out as second best defensive third baseman in the American League last year.

Can Seager play other positions?

He has 165 2/3 innings played at second base in the Majors. He’s also racked up 76 innings at shortstop.

How bad is Seager’s contract?

It’s bad. He signed a seven-year deal worth $100 million after the 2014 season. He’ll get paid through 2021, and he has a team option for 2022 that becomes a player option if he’s traded. He’s due $19 million in 2019, $19 million in 2020, and $18 million in 2021. His option is worth $15 million, and it comes with a buyout worth $3 million. It’s a tough contract for any team to take on, including the Milwaukee Brewers.

Seager just turned 31 years old, and he’ll be 34 after 2021.

What would a deal look like?

You saw where the Seattle Mariners will do ‘whatever it takes’ to deal Seager, right? They ate a bunch of money on the Cano trade, and they’ll probably have to do the same on a Seager deal. He might cost a few warm bodies off a Rookie League roster or a journeyman or two from the higher Minors, but Seager will cost next to nothing in talent, and come with money.

The amount of money usually depends on the quality of prospect sent back, but it doesn’t sound like it’s going to take much to get Seager or extra dollars out of the Mariners.

The Milwaukee Brewers employed a similar strategy last year when they acquired Moustakas, and clearly don’t have an issue with playing Shaw at second. If the Brewers can get the Mariners to pay at least half of his salary in exchange for a few names off a Minor League roster, why not try to swing a deal? Seager has better defensive metrics than Moustakas, and could actually cost the Brewers less if they can get the Mariners to eat some of his contract. This is an option that could be worth exploring for the Milwaukee Brewers and GM David Stearns.