Phillies Trade Carlos Santana, J.P. Crawford For Jean Segura

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Phillies have finalized their first major move of the offseason, landing All Star shortstop Jean Segura from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for veteran slugger Carlos Santana and former elite prospect J.P. Crawford.

The Phillies will also receive talented veteran relievers Juan Nicasio and James Pazos in the deal, according to numerous reports and first detailed Monday morning by Bob Nightengale at USA Today.

Segura, 28, is a two-time All Star who hit .304 last year. He'll bring strong contact skills to a Phillies team that finished last in the National League in batting average in 2018 at .234. He also has elite speed, stealing 20 bases last season (and flashing potential for even more, with 44 back in 2013). He's signed through 2022, with $60 million remaining on his contract.

The trade brings Santana's Phillies tenure to a close after just one season. The first baseman had a rough start to the 2018 season but rebounded strongly, and was a force atop a lineup that struggled to hit consistently. He was signed to a three year, $60 million deal last December.

Crawford, still just 24, has been considered one of the game's top prospects for years. Some of his shine rubbed off after he struggled last year before becoming injured and missing a large chunk of the season, but the longtime heir-apparent to Jimmy Rollins has huge potential.

The move is notable in that it's an exchange of two players noted for their exceptional plate discipline and on-base skills, Santana and Crawford, for a guy who doesn't walk much but hits for high average. The Phillies front office has long been enamored of those on-base traits, but this trade indicates a willingness to adapt on their part.

There are other important reasons this trade makes sense for the Phillies. The first is that while Crawford still has great potential, Segura is already an established hitter who will help them win now. The second is that moving Santana improves the Phillies defense by default, as they can now move Rhys Hoskins back to his natural position at first after he struggled in the outfield last year.

Segura is just the latest of the Mariners costly but talented veterans they've dealt away in recent days, as a full fledged teardown of the roster has seen them ship Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets, Alex Colome to the White Sox, and James Paxton to the Yankees.

Numerous industry analysts have noted that the Phillies remain interested in pursuing free agent Manny Machado despite this trade. If they land him, they would slot him in at third base and Segura at short.

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