PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies acquired two-time All-Star shortstop Jean Segura from the Seattle Mariners for veteran slugger Carlos Santana and infielder J.P. Crawford on Monday.
The Phillies also get left-hander James Pazos and righty Juan Nicasio in the trade.
“Shortstop was an area we didn’t get a lot of production,” Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said. “Segura moves the needle for us as far as win expectancy.”
Segura hit .304 with 10 homers, 63 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and had a .341 on-base percentage last season. He is signed through 2022 and is owed $60 million. He also got a $1 million bonus for approving the deal.
It was the second major deal of the day for the Mariners. They also sent second baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz to the New York Mets for five players, including two top prospects and outfielder Jay Bruce.
“Carlos Santana has been among the most durable players in the big leagues over the last eight years and has been a fixture in the middle of lineups during that time,” Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said. “He gets on base, he does damage at the plate and is quite an underrated first baseman. J.P. Crawford gives us a young shortstop who is very athletic and fills up the tool box; he hits, he runs, he plays defence, he throws, he has power. For the last four running, he’s been among the top 20 prospects in baseball.”
Seattle went 89-73 this year and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2001, the longest post-season drought among the four major pro American sports. The Phillies, who added Santana and Jake Arrieta last off-season, finished 80-82 after leading the NL East in early August.
Santana batted a career-low .229 with 24 homers, 86 RBIs and a .352 OBP in his first season in Philadelphia after signing a $60 million, three-year contract.
“Carlos is one of my favourite players in the league,” Klentak said. “I love the way he plays the game… I love everything about the guy.”
Moving Santana allows the Phillies to move Rhys Hoskins from left field to his natural position at first base. Philadelphia’s team defence last season was among the worst in the majors.
Crawford, a 2013 first-round pick, hit .214 in only 49 games. He’s been plagued by injuries and has only 187 career at-bats.
Pazos was 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 60 appearances, covering 50 innings. He struck out 45 and walked 15.
Nicasio was 1-6 with a 6.00 ERA in 46 games. He pitched in two games for the Phillies in 2017.
Klentak said he’s still exploring other moves. The Phillies had All-Star lefty Patrick Corbin in town for a visit last week. The team is also interested in sluggers Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, among other hitters.
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