The Mariners Acquiring Dee Gordon From The Marlins Is a Very Big Deal

The Miami Marlins have traded second baseman Dee Gordon to the Seattle Mariners for three prospects.

This is the first significant trade in MLB this off-season and it might be the most significant.

It is significant first and foremost because it makes the beginning of the fire sale in Miami official under Derek Jeter's leadership. How far behind can Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and, of course, Giancarlo Stanton, be out the door?

But more importantly, this is the trade which might get the Mariners into the post-season for the first time since 2001. Gordon collected 201 hits and led the NL with 60 bases in 2017 with the Marlins. He will certainly be an upgrade over Jarrod Dyson at the top of the order. Of course, the big question is whether Gordon can play center field. After all, Robinson Cano isn't going anywhere at second base. Gordon, who turns 30 in April, is in the prime of his career. Putting the shame of his 2016 PED suspension behind him, Gordon is ready to win. I think the Mariners acquiring Gordon is the equivalent of the 2005 Chicago White Sox adding Scott Podsednik to their lineup.

Should the Mariners sign Shohei Ohtani, the Gordon trade will be an afterthought. But Ohtani will be icing on the cake while Gordon will make things bake. This move alone makes the Mariners the biggest challengers to the Houston Astros in the AL West and their World Series title.