The Phillies have been rumored to be in on a number of big-time free agents and trade candidates the last few weeks.
It appears to first shoe is about to drop.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Phillies have agreed to a deal in principle with the Seattle Mariners for shortstop Jean Segura in exchange for shortstop J.P. Crawford.
The Seattle #Mariners and Philadelphia #Phillies have agreed in principal to a trade that will send Jean Segura to the Phillies for shortstop J.P. Crawford that involved other players as well. The deal will be announced Monday. @Ken_Rosenthal first that they were in serious talks
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 3, 2018
Segura, 28-years old, hit .304 last season with an .755 OPS, knocking in 63 runs on 10 home runs, 29 doubles and 178 total hits. The right-handed hitter has a career .287 batting average and has knocked in 316 runs on 1,020 hits in his seven year career. He has spent time with both the Mariners, the Arizona Diamondbacks the Milwaukee Brewers. He is a two-time All-Star and led the National League in hits in 2016.
Segura is owed $60 million through the 2022 season. Landing Segura before the MLB Winter Meetings begin next week would be an advantage for the Phillies, as it would allow them to head into the annual meetings with one key piece already acquired — and another selling point to other free agents.
If the trade is completed, it will end Crawford’s time with the Phillies, a stint that many would consider a disapointment. Crawford hit just .214 with 18 RBIs in 72 games over the last two seasons.
News of the trade comes on the heals of an NBC Sports Philadelphia report that the Phillies are hoping to pair Segura with free agent Manny Machado, one of the top players available this offseason. If the Phillies are indeed able to land both Machado and Segura, the plan — according to the report — would be to plan Machado at third base and Segura at shortstop.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at [email protected]!
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