Official: Phillies Acquire Segura, 2 Relievers, Trade Crawford, Santana

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Matt Klentak has completed his first acquisition of what could be a historic offseason in Philadelphia Phillies and professional sports history.

Seattle Mariners shortstop Jean Segura , right-hander Juan Nicasio and southpaw James Pazos have been dealt to the Phillies in exchange for once top league prospect J.P. Crawford and first baseman Carlos Santana, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Zolecki adds that no cash was exchanged in the trade. 

The Mariners "pushed" to get one of the Phillies' "young arms" (i.e. Zach Eflin, Adonis Medina and Jojo Romero), according to The Athletic's Jayson Stark, but the Phillies "balked" at the demand. Right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak was originally reported to be one of the returns the Phillies would receive, however it instead later turned out to be both Nicasio and Pazoshas to complement Segura.

The Phillies are far from done in their roster retool, as the club is reportedly still interested in signing free agent superstars Manny Machado, Bryce Harper and Patrick Corbin, according to Nightengale on Sunday. The Phillies are "likely to focus on one free agent mega star at a time," notes Fancred's Jon Heyman, with Harper believed to be their "first focus."

Segura, who will be 29 on Opening Day, is a two-time All-Star and seven-year veteran who led the National League in hits in 2016 (203). Through 901 career games, Segura has slashed .287/.327/.404 with 154 doubles, 36 triples, 64 home runs, 316 RBI, 171 stolen bases and 184 walks. Over the past three seasons alone with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Mariners, the Dominican Republic native has a combined .308/.353/.449 slash with 538 hits, 172 RBI and 75 stolen bases over 422 games.

Nicasio, 32, appeard in just two games with the Phillies in 2017, previously selected off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 31. The Phillies dealt Nicasio less than a week water to the St. Louis Cardinals for Eliezer Alvarez. The eight-year veteran has 622 strikeouts in 671 2/3 innings.

Pazos, 27, went 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.240 WHIP in 60 appearances and 50 innings this past season with the Mariners. The Gilbert, Arizona, native debuted in 2015 with the New York Yankees.

Crawford, 23, has appeared in 72 games over the past two seasons, slashing .214/.333/.358 with 40 hits in 72 games, 10 being doubles. The Long Beach, California, native missed significant time in 2018 due to a fractured left hand.

Santana, 32, produced his career-worst batting average (.229) in his first and only season with the Phillies in 2018. The nine-year veteran still had $35 million left on his contract in 2019 and 2010, along with a $17.5 million team option or $500,000 buyout for 2021. Last season in the National League, Santana ranked 10th in plate appearances (679) and worst in errors committed as a first baseman (10).

By the Phillies parting with Santana, Rhys Hoskins could return full-time to his natural position at first base in 2019.

Segura wore No. 2 with the Mariners, the same number Crawford donned in Phillies red pinstripes. As The Athletic's Jayson Stark notes, Segura (69, 632 PA) was one of only three players this past season with 600-plus plate appearances and less than 70 strikeouts, joining Michael Brantley 60 (630) and Andrelton Simmons 44 (600).

Segura waived his no-trade clause to join the Phillies. The shortstop was reportedly involved in trade discussions last month that would have sent him and right-hander Mike Leake to the San Diego Padres in exchange for outfielder Wil Myers. Per NBC Sports' Christopher Crawford, Segura was not going to waive his no-trade clause at all this offseason, however the recent trade of Robinson Cano to the Mets, that included Swarzak, caused him to change his mind.

Per Christopher Crawford, the Phillies' deal for Segura was "done" before the Mets' deal for Cano, which first gained momentum early last week.

Segura has hit at least .300 the past three seasons, and stolen at least 20 bases the past six. He has a five-year, $70 million contract, and cannot become an unrestricted free agent until 2024. Segura has a $17 million team option for 2023, with a $1 million buyout. He will earn $14.85 million in each of the next four seasons.

According to Stark, Segura got a $1 million assignment bonus in exchange for agreeing to waive his no-trade clause and accept the trade to the Phillies. Segura's no-trade will remain in effect through 2022.

The Mariners' trade of Segura, Nicasio and Pazos follows their recent trades of James Paxton, Mike Zunino, Alex Colome, Edwin Diaz and Cano. Virtually every veteran on their roster is on the trade block, Nightengale notes.