According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, the M’s could tender Trumbo a contract prior to Wednesday’s deadline before trading him, with the Colorado Rockies emerging as one of the top suitors. He would be expected to go from the $6.7 million he made in 2015 to about $9 million via the arbiration process.
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Trumbo wouldn’t figure to be a player who is non-tendered, but the Mariners may be convinced they are better to move him now, anyway.
262 with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs over 142 games with the Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks last season. As Trumbo appears to be lined up to prevent free agency by being tendered by the Mariners, the Orioles would have to strike a deal to acquire him in the event they desperately need to fill voids on their roster.
Trumbo hit 29, 32 and 34 homers in his first three big league seasons and did so while playing half of his games in a park that favors pitchers. But where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire, and it’s not like adding Mark Trumbo wouldn’t make sense for the Rockies considering their predicament at first base entering 2016. Both teams have needs at first base, especially if the Orioles do not win the bidding for Chris Davis.
The Orioles could also slot Trumbo into a designated hitter role.
While the Orioles have become the frontrunners in this race, that may become a race that doesn’t exist, Colorado is also a possible destination as the Rockies are always looking to bolster their batting order.
What would seem to be most troubling to a general manager trying to make an imprint on his new team would be Trumbo’s below-average on-base percentage.
If Trumbo becomes a free agent Wednesday night, I’d expect the Rockies to make a run at him.
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As a first baseman/outfielder, Trumbo could prove to be a flexible option in Walt Weiss’ lineup.
