Breaking Down Every Mariners Move This Offseason
By Nick Lee
Traded RHP Paul Blackburn to Athletics for UTL Danny Valencia
What They Lose
Blackburn was the other chip in the trade that sent Mike Montgomery to the Chicago Cubs and brought in first baseman Dan Vogelbach. Blackburn, 23 years old, is yet to make his major league debut. He posted a solid 3.27 ERA in 25 starts for Double-A Tennessee and Double-A Jackson.
What They Gain
Danny Valencia is a 32 year-old vet who has seven major league seasons under his belt. He played in 130 games for Oakland last year, hitting .287 with 17 home runs while playing four different defensive positions (1st and 3rd base, right and left field).
Many think he will platoon with Vogelbach at first base. He has appeared in 43 games at first base in his career, with +2 defensive runs saved. He is ultra-valuable as a utility man. The Mariners can place him all over the field. It will be like having two or three more bench players in one. He also has played 28 games at Safeco Field.
Traded RHP Taijuan Walker and SS Ketel Marte to Diamondbacks for SS Jean Segura, OF Mitch Haniger and LHP Zac Curtis
What They Lose
This was easily the biggest trade of the offseason for Dipoto’s Mariners. Walker was supposed to be the heir-apparent to King Felix when Felix Hernandez can no longer wear the crown. After three up-and-down seasons and struggling to keep his ERA below 4.20 the last two seasons, the Mariners pulled the plug. He has a lot of upside but the Mariners were tired of waiting.
Marte finally got to play nearly every day in 2016. The results were lukewarm. He hit .259 with one home run and struggled to get on base. He also was -2 in defensive runs saved at shortstop.
What They Gain
This trade should get M’s fans excited. Jean Segura is young (26 years old) and a former All-Star (2013). He led the National League in hits in 2016 with 203. He was one of only four players to reach the 200-hit plateau last season. He posted a .319 average and hit 20 home runs. The home runs may be an outlier but he is a lifetime .280 hitter in five seasons. He committed just one error in 23 games at shortstop last season. He has played 495 games at shortstop.
Mitch Haniger may be one of the more underrated acquisitions of the offseason. He made his major league debut last season, hitting five home runs in 34 games for Arizona. He was a Triple-A All-Star and PCL Player of the Month in 2016. He hit .321 with a .419 on-base percentage and 25 home runs in 129 games in Triple-A last season. He could very well find himself in the lineup somewhere (likely right field) come opening day.
Curtis also made his debut last season for the D-backs. He appeared in 21 games with a 6.75 ERA. The 24 year-old spent most of 2016 in Double-A, where the lefty had 30 strikeouts in 19 innings.