Pittsburgh Pirates Trade Target: Jean Segura

Could a potential Seattle Mariners teardown be where the Pittsburgh Pirates turn to fix their issues at the shortstop position?

With the MLB offseason beginning to rev up, the Pittsburgh Pirates pursuit for shortstop help will begin to intensify. As the offseason starts to heat up one potential development could be a fire sale by the Seattle Mariners.

If the Mariners do look to sell one player that could become available is infielder Jean Segura. And Segura is a player that could fix the Pirates’ shortstop woes.

The 28-year-old Segura is an ex-Brewer and a former Pirate killer. Since leaving Milwaukee in an offseason trade following the 2015 season, he has become one of the best two-way shortstops in the game.

Segura is coming off a season in Seattle in which he slashed .304/.341/.415 with a .327 wOBA, 111 wRC+, and a 3.8 fWAR. He also played a strong shortstop in 2018 posting a 7.3 dWAR while being responsible for 5 defensive runs saved. This would be a big upgrade, both offensively and defensive, over what the Pirates have gotten from the shortstop position during the Jordy Mercer Era.

The past three seasons Segura appears to have turned a corner as a hitter. Segura has slashed .308/.353/.449 with a .345 wOBA and a 117 wRC+ since the start of the 2016 campaign. This is a big reason why Segura’s 11.8 fWAR the past three seasons ranks seventh among all Major League shortstops.

He is also a plus fielder at the position. Segura is coming a +5 DRS season at shortstop and owns a positive career DRS at the position to go with career fielding percentage of .970.

Another positive to pursuing Segura in a trade is that he comes with five-years of control making him a long-term answer at the shortstop position. Segura is owed $64 million over the next five seasons, with the final season of the five being a $17 million club option for the 2023 season.

Despite having spent the past seven years at the MLB level, Segura is still just 28-years-old. Therefore, his contract should take him right through the prime years of his career.

A potential hold up with Segura could be his no trade clause. However, he is used to the NL Central due to his time with the Brewers and, if the Mariners do blow things up, the Pirates are in a much better spot to compete than the M’s. These two factors could entice Segura to waive his no trade clause.

If the Mariners do decide to tear things down and look to sell pieces, the Pirates need to pursue shortstop Jean Segura. Segura can help to stabilize the shortstop position for the Pirates both now and into the future.