Kyle Seager is already proving to be a valuable asset in the Seattle Mariners organization.
When Dustin Ackley(notes) was promoted from Triple-A Tacoma to the major leagues, the Mariners had to fill that roster spot. What they decided to do was promote Seager out of Jackson and into his second base slot for the Rainiers. All he has done since then is post spectacular numbers that might actually have him on the fast-track to the big leagues.
Seager had been hitting .312 at Double-A, with 83 hits in just 66 games played. He was showcasing some nice talent at second base, and with the biggest asset in the system getting promoted (Ackley), Seager finally got his chance.
The irony is pretty thick here, as Ackley and Seager were actually teammates at North Carolina. Seager was the second baseman for the Tar Heels, a position that the Mariners groomed Ackley to take over in the major leagues. Now, it seems like Ackley will be the second baseman for many years to come, and the thought process evolves into how Seattle can use Seager. There are certainly fans that would love to see him move to third base, but there is also the sentiment that he could become a valuable trade asset.
In his first eight games at Tacoma (through July 1), Seager has posted a .514 batting average. He has 19 hits in 37 at-bats as well as four walks to go with it. His 13 runs scored have been just as beneficial as Ackley's production when he was at Tacoma, and his clutch hitting has started to really turn some heads in the organization. Seager already has nine RBIs in those eight games, and has connected with multiple hits in seven of them.
Seager almost appears like he is ready for a promotion to the major leagues, and that is what could make him a very valuable trade commodity. The Mariners should not promote him if he isn't going to get to play every day, but they should certainly sing his praises if it comes to bringing in a power hitter on offense. The risk is that they might give up Seager for a player that isn't worth the exchange, though, much in the way they lost Asdrubal Cabrera(notes) a few years ago.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ycn-8740447
