Free agency was upon Major League Baseball, and to the joy of 28 GM's around the league, shortstop
Carlos Correa and third baseman
Manny Machado both opted out of their contracts to become free agents. What was once looking like a pretty lukewarm market was suddenly boiling with talent.
Correa was the headliner. The 27 year-old hit .322 with 37 homers, 51 doubles, and 118 RBI in an MVP season in 2021, helping lead the Houston Astros to a second World Series title. Machado was nearly as impressive for the Orioles. The 29 year-old hit .290 with 35 homers, 38 doubles, and 117 RBI. Correa and Machado were both due mammoth paydays, and they knew it.
Under the guidance of agent Scott Boras, Correa was seeking a landmark deal in excess of $50 million per year, which would make him the first player to eclipse that milestone in U.S. sports history. Problem was, the Mariners had a budget of just north of $20 million to pursue free agents. Seattle pitched a 10-year, $215 million contract and was pretty much laughed right out the door. So Jerry Dipoto started dreaming up a way to land a big star in the middle of his infield without breaking the bank.
On a lark, Dipoto engaged in talks with the Cleveland Indians about their franchise shortstop,
Francisco Lindor. The 28 year-old had signed a 7-year, $269 million extension before the 2021 season, and he rewarded the Indians with an AL batting crown by hitting .336, while leading all MLB position players with 9.4 Wins Above Replacement. Cleveland was in the market for a starting pitcher, and the Mariners had just the right guy in mind.
Blake Snell was entering the final year of arbitration with Seattle and was scheduled for free agency the following winter. He had won his arbitration case in earning $10 million ahead of the 2022 season, and was seeking an extension that would pay him $20 million annually. Dipoto had room in his budget to sign that extension, but had no plans of using that money on a pitcher about to enter his thirties. Surprisingly, the Indians were willing to trade Lindor for Snell, straight-up. But that would mean the Mariners would pay all of Lindor's substantial salary, which would peak at just under $40 million three years in. So the two sides went back and forth on financial terms until finally the Indians agreed to pay 40% of Lindor's salary in return for first baseman
Jose Abreu and third baseman
Kody Clemens, along with just under $10 million in cash considerations. Dipoto raised the stakes by asking for a new starting pitcher --
Danny Salazar -- in exchange for reliever
Steve Nogosek. The deal would put a $3.4 million dent in Seattle's budget for the upcoming season, and add $22 million for the upcoming season. After that, Lindor had a player option, and there were no guarantees the shortstop would remain a Mariner after those first two seasons. It was a risk Dipoto was willing to take.
But the Mariners didn't stop there. Dipoto struck a deal with the Mets, sending closer
Keone Kela and prospects
Nick Kahle and
J.D. Hapes to New York for reliever
Carter Capps. Kela had one more year before free agency, while Capps still had two years remaining, and New York was willing to foot all but $1 million of his yearly $8.1 million salary in the swap.
Just like that, the Mariners had added franchise shortstop Francisco Lindor, veteran starting pitcher Danny Salazar, and reliever Carter Capps to the roster while taking on just $3.4 million of additional payroll for 2021. With any luck, Seattle could still be a player in free agency, too.
