The Nick Franklin Trade that Should Happen

by Hayden Hughes
2/25/14

Nick Franklin

So there seems to be a growing agreement among the internet that Seattle's displaced second baseman Nick Franklin will be traded to New York for Mets' prospect righty Rafael Montero.

The 23-year-old Montero is a flamethrower with a solid slider and change up that the Mariners would probably be satisfied to have in exchange for an infielder they have no use for with the signing of Robinson Cano.

Nick Franklin, also 23 this March, is a 2-win player, with power potential to be a 20 homers-20 doubles guy. He is a switch-hitter who compares best to Colby Rasmus or Asdrubal Cabrera in their age 23 seasons.

And the Mets would most likely be satisfied with playing Franklin, a second baseman, at shortstop because they're the Mets. I suppose it would be an adequate replacement over Ruben Tejada.

But I have another idea for the Mets and Mariners that involves a third team: the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The following things have to be considered, understood, and even assumed:

•  I'm assuming the Pirates would take an upgrade at first base over Gaby Sanchez, even if it was only a slight upgrade.
• The Pirates are thinking about their future.
• The Mets would be giving up the least in the trade, so they receive the least.
• The Mariners understand they have a huge problem in right field, right? 
• Corey Hart is in RF on their depth chart

Okay, the trade:

• The Mets receive 2B/SS Nick Franklin from Seattle.
• The Pirates receive 1B Justin Smoak from Seattle.
• The Mariners receive OF Jose Tabata from Pittsburgh and RHP Rafael Montero from New York.

Smoak

Seattle gets a corner outfielder in Tabata who brings more athleticism than what Seattle currently has lined up, plus moving Smoak gives Hart or Logan Morrison a chance to take over at first with the other at DH. Pretty straight forward, if you can get on board with the idea of playing Hart and Morrison every day, which I am hesitant to do. But there's no doubt Tabata brings potential for stolen bases and a cut-down on strikeouts that would be leaving with Smoak. Moving Smoak and Tabata would be gutsy moves from both Seattle and Pittsburgh but I think it would work out fine. Not only do Smoak and Tabata mirror each other in terms of low-AVG/decent-OBP but both players' best days are probably ahead of them.

Polanco

The Pirates lose Tabata, who played in 106 games for them, but they get an upgrade in Justin Smoak over Gaby Sanchez at first. Plus, if that Tabata contract ends up being one to regret, which club can afford take that hit: Seattle or Pittsburgh? Exactly. Plus Smoak and Tabata both played 2013 with WARs under 2.0 and are similar in age (27 and 25, respectively). Oh yeah, and Pittsburgh has this guy - Gregory Polanco - who will make an impact for the Pirates this year who compares to future teammate Andrew McCutchen and Austin Jackson according to Baseball Prospectus. He's left-handed, throwing and hitting, and at 22-years old could have a breakout rookie season if given the chance. He is seen as a potential five-tool guy if his power can catch up with the rest of his game, with the most impressive asset being his speed on defense and on the base paths. Oh yeah, man. That's why you trade Tabata. Imagine a Pirates line up that resembles this:

1. Starling Marte
2. Jordy Mercer
3. Andrew McCutchen
4. Pedro Alvarez
5. Neil Walker
6. Russell Martin
7. Justin Smoak
8. Gregory Polanco

Oh. Yeah.

New York stands to gain the least in this trade, but they are sacrificing the least. They receive a switch-hitting middle infielder in Franklin, who possess some real power potential. And for New York, the loss of Montero is really okay for this club. They have Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler, and establishing two young starters in one season will be enough of a roller coaster ride in 2014 (never mind the fact that Jenrry Mejia will get some starts in 2014, as well). Both Syndergaard and Wheeler will probably have their feet cemented in the majors by 2015, when Matt Harvey returns from Tommy John Surgery. Filling a hold at shortstop everyday is more important for this club than trying to make another young arm work in a young enough rotation.

It would be a long shot to see Tabata and Smoak be traded this late into Spring Training, but reports again came out that Cub pitcher Jeff Samardzija could be traded by Opening Day, so anything could happen, right?

Of course, there are suitors outside of the Mets, Baltimore might not be as high on Jonathan Schoop if they could acquire Franklin, we can never count the Yankees out, there's a chance Ryan Goins doesn't work out in Toronto, and the Braves need to replace Dan Uggla (the sooner, the better, Atlanta).

But I like this trade a lot for all teams involved. So get out there and propose this one in all your forums.