Paying the Iron Price - Mariners as Buyers

"We do not sow." These are the words of House Greyjoy, rulers of the Iron Islands in Game of Thrones. Iron Islanders (a.k.a. the Ironborn) look down upon those who acquire power and wealth through trade, commerce, or diplomacy. Ironborn believe in paying the Iron Price; taking from others by force, raiding, and conquest.

Here in the AL West(eros), the Mariners sit atop the salt throne, enjoying a three-game lead over House Astros. This fan base is tired of being looked down on by the rest of the Six Divisions; we crave a playoff berth more than Cersei craves a goblet of wine. But breaking the wheel and pushing for the playoffs would require paying the Iron Price and raiding the rosters of our rival houses. Below I’ve identified several possible targets in the wars to come, along with the price – and Iron Price – we must be willing to sacrifice to obtain them.

The Target: Sonny Gray of the Cincinnati Red Priests

Sonny Gray(joy) has a 2.27 FIP (2.07 ERA) in three starts for the going-no-where Cincinnati Reds. Sonny Gray is two years younger than Mike Leake, is under contract for the next three years, and has a team-friendly option for a fourth year. Sonny Gray is owed less per year than Leake, even after factoring in the Cardinals’ yearly contributions (good work Jerry "Littlefinger" Dipoto). Sonny Gray has made five starts at T-Mobile (née Safeco) Field; his ERA in those five starts is 1.07. Sonny Gray’s stock crashed last year in the Bronx; he was traded four months ago for Shed Long and a comp pick.

The Price:

As tempting as it would be to try to run that trade back now that Long is on the Mariners, Shed looks like he could play a key role in the M’s near future, as a utility player or otherwise. And the Reds would likely ask for more in a trade now that Gray has rehabbed his value following his disastrous time with the Yankees. That said, he’s not the "prince-who-was-promised" that he once was, and he comes with durability concerns – he hasn’t pitched more than 162 innings in any of the previous three seasons. Could a package of Sam Carlson, Jake Fraley, and Ian Miller get this trade done? Braden Bishop and Dom Thompson-Williams? Could we dangle Justin Dunn and acquire veteran reliever Jared Hughes (3.28 FIP, 1.017 WHIP in 78.2 innings last year, making ~$2 million and a friendly team option for next year) in the process? I don’t know, it’s Saturday and I’m focused on gathering supporters for Vogelbach in the coming Kingsmoot.

The Iron Price:

We sail our fleet to Great American Ballpark, plunder their spaghetti/chili, abduct Sonny Gray, and ransom Joey Votto for good measure.

The Target: Tyler Kinley of House Jeter

Miami’s season is much like Renly Baratheon’s reign on the Iron Throne – over before it began. There is simply no reason for the Marlins to employ Kinley, a 28-year-old reliever sporting a 1.17 ERA in seven appearances this year (2.35 ERA and 0.900 WHIP in eight spring training appearances), when there’s no evidence that they actually want to win baseball games.

The Price:

As the packages above indicate, the Mariners suddenly have a glut of outfielder prospects: Rodriguez, Lewis, Kelenic, Bishop, Thompson-Williams, Fraley, Miller. Obviously, a few of those names are way too much for a 28-year-old reliever, but could one of the latter two and maybe some slot money or a flier on a rookie ball player could get this done? I’d at least send a raven to find out.

The Iron Price:

We sail from the Summer Isles off the coast of Miami and sack Marlins Park, making sure to destroy whatever is left of that home run sculpture and their retractable roof. For we all know there can only be one true retractable roof in the Six Divisions, and it belongs to us.

The Target: Kyle Barraclough or of House Washington

Unlike Miami, the Nats are trying to win games this year, but they’re doing so while starting Ryan Zimmerman and his oft-injured, 67 OPS+ at first base. If only we knew a team who hoarded first basemen with no room to play them all, especially when Kyle Seager comes back from getting treatment at the Citadel (IR) for his greyscale (ligament tear). Oh wait, that’s us! So why don’t we send one of our first basemen and recoup an arm like Kyle Barraclough (1.50 ERA in 8 appearances this season; three more years of team control) or Jeremy Hellickson (2.25 ERA in 8 innings this season; 3.45 ERA, 1.073 WHIP in 91.1 innings last season) in the process?

The Price:

Jay Bruce for Barraclough or Hellickson. I'd be willing to send a prospect or two (see the players mentioned above) to get them both. Bruce's contract might prevent this trade from happening, and you can't flip him with, and then cut, because wouldn't waive his no-trade clause just to be salary filler. Unfortunately for him, Zimmerman may get sent to the wall (benched) regardless, if his slump continues.

The Iron Price:

We warg into Edwin Encarnacion's parrot and peck at the eyes of the Nationals GM, Mike Rizzo, until he includes Juan Soto in the deal as well.