Report: Seattle to Buyout South, Begin Contract Discussions with Puig, Su

According to multiple reports by ESPN's Buster Olney, the Seattle Cascades are planning to buyout the contract of veteran first baseman Matt South this weekend in preparation to begin contract discussions with center fielder Zomiro Puig and reliever Xin Su. South, 36, is in his 4th season as a Cascade after being acquired in a trade deadline deal with the Seoul Red Devils in 2029. He chose to return to Seattle last offseason, signing a 4 year, $32 million deal, but has struggled mightily this season, posting only 9 home runs and 26 RBIs in 52 games so far this season, and is only hitting .226, which would be the lowest batting average since his rookie season if the season were to end today. The emergence of highly touted prospect Luka Polanzki, 25, as a full time offensive contributor in his second full season undoubtedly makes this decision easier for the AL West leading Cascades, but this decision is likely made in conjunction with further reports by Olney that the team plans to initiate discussions for contract extensions with reliever Xin Su and center fielder Zomiro Puig, who both are scheduled to hit free agency after next season. Su, 27, is the reigning Reliever of the Year, and has followed up his best season by becoming a serious Cy Young Award contender. In 30 appearances so far this season, he already has 9 wins to his credit, 2 fewer than he had in 85 appearances last season. He also has a 1.87 ERA, over a full run lower than his previous career high (3.08, set last season as well). Su, a former 2nd Round Pick of the Kansas City Royals (now Shanghai Crowned Cranes), warrants a multi-year extension, which Seattle is most likely to give without question given his track record out of the bullpen. GM sfascetta has always preached his belief of building a strong bullpen first, so signing Su long term is most likely high on his to-do list. Puig, 29, has never quite lived up to being the 6th Overall Pick in 2026, but it has not been for lack of opportunity. The first player ever drafted by GM sfascetta, Puig has been expected to be one of, if not the top center fielder in the game for at least the last half-decade. He is currently on track for his best season, but his career has been plagued by inconsistency and injury. He has struggled to post an on base percentage above .300 throughout his career, but the power that has always been expected of him has begun to show up the last two seasons, culminating in a career high 35 doubles, 38 home runs, 115 RBIs, and his first career All-Star appearance last season. Because the CBA dictates players coming off of their first contract extension must receive a $20 million annual salary, Seattle needed to clear out some more cap space in order to sign the two next season, and South has become the latest cap casualty. However, Seattle is probably not finished playing the salary game, with a majority of their young stars' contracts up in the next few years. Reliever Stefan Beito, second baseman Delmon Cardenas, and shortstop Derek Stanley are scheduled to hit free agency the year after Su and Puig, starter Gilberto Heredia, outfielder Vincent Pastore, and first baseman Luka Polanzki the year after that, and outfielder Eric Jenson and reliever Hugh Burton the following season. This saga is just beginning in Seattle.