MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees, Red Sox, Mets Eyeing Edwin Diaz, Mariners Want To Include Cano In Deal

When it was first reported that the Seattle Mariners were looking to trade some of their best players, it appeared that the organization might not be ready to deal their younger, cheaper stars. After already making a few moves this offseason, Seattle could consider trading away their 24-year-old pitcher for the right price.

According to The New York Post’s Joel Sherman, the New York York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves have all expressed interest in acquiring Edwin Diaz. In order to get a deal done, one of those teams might have to take back Robinson Cano, as well.

Cano remains one of the best second basemen in baseball, but his age and contract make him difficult to trade. He’s 36 years old and set to make $24 million in each of the next five seasons. Seattle is reportedly exploring the idea of trading Cano and Diaz to the same team.

The Yankees have already rejected a proposed Cano-for-Jacoby Ellsbury swap, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. The Bronx Bombers wanted Seattle to pay a significant portion of Cano’s contract, in addition to taking on the $42 million Ellsbury is owed over the next two years.

There is a growing belief that maybe the Mets would be willing to acquire Cano in the right deal. They’ve got some players making a lot of money, namely Jay Bruce and his $13 million per year salary, that they’d also like to unload.

Boston could need a new closer with Craig Kimbrel becoming a free agent. Philadelphia is reportedly showing interest in Kimbrel, though Diaz is a younger, cheaper and probably better option. Braves’ general manager Alex Anthopoulos said on MLB Network the team might not have the money to spend on a big-time closer, so trading for Diaz might make sense for Atlanta, though adding Cano would not.

Diaz made his first All-Star team last year, leading MLB with 57 saves. He was virtually unhittable with a 1.96 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. Diaz recorded 124 strikeouts in 73.1 innings and finished eighth in the AL Cy Young race.

Because Diaz isn’t eligible to hit free agency until after the 2022 season, it’d likely take multiple highly touted prospects for Seattle to trade him without also dumping salary. He made less than $600,000 last season and won’t make much more in 2019.

The Mariners have already traded pitcher James Paxton to the Yankees for three prospects. Seattle sent catcher Mike Zunino to the Tampa Bay Rays in a five-player deal.