The internal value of a player/prospect depends on whether you have excess or need at the position. The value in the market depends on the relative scarcity. It makes difference if a team is dealing from strength or weakness. You pay to address weakness.
The Dodgers need to move excess outfielders to make room for Joc Pederson, who blew the doors off AAA Albuquerque in 2014. They have expensive, aging former stars that aren't worth their salaries any more, and the same 25 man roster limitations as the rest of MLB. They have to move 1-2 of them this off-season just to manage the roster. In reality, any of their five current OFers (or Joc Pederson) would improve the Mariners roster, but Crawford and Ethier can't be moved without salary relief. Van Slyke is cost controlled and could be packaged with another to make a deal palatable for a trading partner. Assuming they lose Ramirez as a FA, they need MI depth, and every team needs pitching.
The M's have MI depth and pitching. I could see the M's dealing some of that (one of Ack/Miller/Taylor +) for VS and Crawford/Ethier, and the Dodgers keeping Kemp. Both teams win, somewhat, and neither team gives up the farm. The M's would get a RH bat and another OFer, but not "the" RH MOTO bat they need. That bat probably arrives in 2016 as Kiv and/or Deej, or an improved Zunino, but VS might be a stopgap for 2015.
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