Report: Phillies, Mariners have agreed in principle on Segura trade

By Theo DeRosa, Sports Talk Philly staff

A Jean Segura trade from the Seattle Mariners to the Philadelphia Phillies has been agreed to in principle, according to a report Sunday night by USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

The deal will feature J.P. Crawford and other players, with the others likely prepared to head to Seattle.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, who previously reported the Phillies' interest in Segura and the Seattle Mariners' preference for J.P. Crawford in a possible trade return, updated the talks on Sunday, saying Seattle and Philadelphia were in "serious talks on a trade" that would send Segura to Philadelphia.

The deal won't go through until the blockbuster deal with the New York Mets, sending Robinson Canó and Edwin Díaz to Queens for Jay Bruce, Jarred Kelenic and others, is complete.

Segura, a two-time All-Star, will bring a high batting average to the Phils' shortstop position, something the Phillies haven't had since the days of Jimmy Rollins. He owns a career . 287 batting average and hit .304 with the Mariners in 2018. According to Baseball-Reference.com, Segura was worth 4.3 wins above replacement in 2018; Scott Kingery had a mark of -1.5. Replacing Kingery with Segura at short would be a clear upgrade for the Phillies.

As for the return, it remains to be seen what more than Crawford it has taken to land Segura from Seattle. If the Mariners tried to unload another large contract — that of 3B Kyle Seager, who struggled mightily in 2018, it could drive down the Phillies' price.

NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury reported the Phils' desire to land Segura could mean that, should the team sign free-agent infielder Manny Machado, Segura would man shortstop and Machado would play third base, where he has better defensive numbers.

This left side of the infield — at least, Segura's part — isn't far from reality. On Segura's Instagram post wishing Canó luck with the Mets, Canó left a comment that included the words, "You next."

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