A Sweet Seattle Mariners Trade Rumor

Update/FACT 8:01am : The Mariners will trade Jeff Clement and another minor-leaguer today. Credit Ryan Divish

OMG!!! THE MARINERS ARE TRADING WASHBURN FOR JJ HARDY!!!!

Actually, no, as of this time, the Mariners have not traded Jarrod Washburn to anybody. But right around this time of the season, when any trade rumor surfaces, it is totally normal for everyone to freak out and send out tweets, text messages, and Facebook statuses like the one above.

I know I cannot control what everyone does, but I will guarantee you will not see anything like the above message show up on our Facebook or Twitter (Self-promotion :). By the way, if you are not a fan on Facebook or are not following us on Twitter, SHAME ON YOU.

I actually highly suggest you follow us on Twitter, I post a lot of tidbits, random thoughts, rumors, etc., that just is not long or detailed enough to be on the main blog.

Back to the point, in the next few days we are going to see a lot of rumors having to do with our Seattle Mariners. Mainly we are going to here Washburn's name a lot, but there really is no guarantee if he will get traded or not.

Rumor has it that Washburn will only gain significant trade value once Roy Halladay is traded (if he ends up being traded). Teams see Washburn as a fall back option to Halladay. Perhaps this is why Washburn has not been traded yet?

I have no problem with Zduriencik employing this strategy, as long as Washburn is gone by the deadline. Also except a minor move involving Wladimir Balentein. Wladdy just does not have a spot on this team any longer.

People are freaking out about Clement's removal from his Tacoma game last night, and because of Twitter and Geoff Baker's blog, people knew of the news right away. It is scary how fast information travels now a days, and how fast and reasonable conclusions can be made in the real-time. Baker had this to say about Clement's pulling:

Jeff Clement has been removed for a pinch-hitter in the third inning of Tacoma's game tonight in Reno. I'm not sure of the significance, but with the trade deadline approaching, and Clement a possible chip, you have to wonder if it's trade related. I'm not saying it is, because I don't know. But it's provocative. 

I'm told that there is no injury involved. It's more than provocative. I'd advance it to suspicious. There have been recent rumors of a three-way trade involving both Clement and Brandon Morrow going to Cleveland, Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee to Tampa, and Scott Kazmir and shortstop Reid Brignac to Seattle. Kazmir, provocatively, pitched seven strong innings for the Rays tonight to beat the Yankees (seven innings, five hits, one run). Cliff Lee is rumored to be going a million different places right now, so who knows? I'm digging as fast as I can while trying to get my game story done simultaneously.

This is one of the best trade rumors I have heard so far. Clement no longer fits within this organization and Morrow seems like a project that another team can handle. Brignac would fill our hole at shortstop and Kazmir would be a front-end rotation starter.

By the way, Kazmir is the same age as Morrow, so we are not necessarily getting older in this trade. It sets us up for next season as Kazmir's contract does not run up until next season. Even if we are not going to make the playoffs this year, I see no reason why this trade would not be a positive one for us.

We might have to eat up some of Kazmir's contract, but because he is a relatively healthy arm, he would be a worthwhile investment for one and a half seasons, and possibly more. If anyone takes Bedard I would be happy, but I do not know if anyone is willing to take injured goods. We might be stuck with him.

What are your thoughts while the Mariners inch closer to Friday's Trade Deadline?

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