The Miami Marlins have executed their first big trade of the offseason, but it doesn’t include right fielder Giancarlo Stanton.
On Thursday afternoon, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Miami sent second baseman Dee Gordon to the Seattle Mariners in one of the most high-profile transactions of the offseason to date.
Gordon was linked to the San Francisco Giants earlier in the offseason as a potential candidate to be moved in a possible Stanton trade, but those reports were later shot down. By trading Gordon, the Marlins have likely relieved themselves of owing the second baseman the remaining $51.9 million left on his contract.
The Mariners are an intriguing trade partner for the Marlins because Seattle already has second baseman Robinson Cano on the books, and he’s signed through the 2023 season. Gordon is signed through 2021, and it’s unlikely the Mariners would be able to keep both players on their roster heading into the 2018 season.
The Marlins are reportedly interested in cutting their payroll down to $90 million next year after the franchise entered the 2017 campaign with a team-record $115 million payroll. With Gordon off the books, Miami is inching closer toward its goal.