Baseball can change a lot over a two-year course. In 2017, the Marlins had a great starting lineup that featured Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and J.T. Realmuto, with Dee Gordon igniting the offense from the leadoff spot. But overall, the team was mediocre and lacking a clear path to improve into a true contender. The following offseason (under new ownership), a full rebuild of the franchise began, and Gordon was the first of those familiar faces to be flipped for younger, more controllable talent.
On Dec. 7, 2017, the Fish sent him to the Mariners in exchange for pitchers Nick Neidert, Robert Dugger, and shortstop Christopher Torres.