Or Nick Swisher, Adam LaRoche or Rafael Soriano.

With the new CBA in place, a team like the Mariners is in the unenviable position of losing the 12th pick if they sign anyone from the above list, even though they've been linked to most of them. That is likely to be a top 50 prospect, and would kneecap their allotted draft budget. That makes for a very difficult decision. Our 1st round pick is still protected, as it is inside the top 10.

So we lose our 2nd round pick, and the Mariners get to keep their 12th overall pick, plus get the player they want to help their struggling offense. How much is that worth? Taijuan Walker? Danny Hultzen? James Paxton? Nick Franklin?

The Braves don't lose out on anything, as they would no longer get Mariners pick, keeping the same sandwich pick, so you wouldn't burn a bridge with a potential trading partner.

I believe there is a rule that a team signing a free agent cannot trade a player until a certain date, but I believe that can be bypassed if you get the player's permission.

DM, start working your phones and do something creative.

Heck, maybe Philly wants to keep that 16th pick bad enough to fill our RF hole with Dominic Brown. It was rumored he was on the table for Alfonso Soriano.