Mariners and Rays Make First Multi-Player Trade

It is nice to see that general manager Jerry Dipoto made a trade in his five weeks on the job. He said that he worked with Tampa Bay for four weeks before finalizing the trade.

What made this trade a good one for the Mariners is that they traded away surplus on the roster and got two pitchers to compete on the staff along with a future centerfielder.

I don’t know much about any of the players the Mariners received except what I have been reading about them on line. Nathan Karnes is being penciled in as a starting pitcher to add additional depth as a fourth or fifth starter. This last season he started twenty-six games for the Rays with an earn run average below four so if he can repeat that for the Mariners that is a good job well done.

The Mariners received another pitcher C.J.  Kiefenhauser who pitches left handed and has been used out of the bullpen throughout his minor league career and a little time with the Rays. He will compete as a situational left hander to get the left handed hitters out. What I have read though he has more success against right handers so the Mariners could leave him in the game after facing the lefty depending on the situation and the inning he comes in. According to Dipoto he was an added assurance in the trade. When it comes to pitching especially relief pitching we have to see where things go with him. I see that he is not a big deal if he doesn’t work out. In multi-player trades usually someone involved that is a question mark.

The third player with a well-known name if you have been around baseball for a long time in Boog Powell; he is a young outfielder who may compete in centerfield or one of the other outfield positions depending what Dipoto may do during the rest of the off-season. What I have been reading is that he doesn’t have a lot of power but has speed and will look good playing in the outfield at Safeco Field. He could turn out to be the lead-off hitter for the Mariners when he is ready to play in the major leagues. Right now Marte is the leadoff hitter; however, either he or Powell could either bat second or ninth in the batting order. In either case it allows speed at the top of the batting order or at the bottom.

I find it hard to see Brad Miller go because of his versatility; however, to get the pieces you want you have to let someone go. Going to the Rays Miller will be back in his home state of Florida which I am sure he and his family will really like, and he will have the chance to play shortstop on a regular basis. Though he no longer is a Mariner I look forward to see where his future goes.

Logan Morrison I expected would be traded this off-season especially with Mark Trumbo on the roster and Jesus Montero. Nelson Cruz likely being designated hitter more frequently this coming season the Mariners had too many first basemen’s. Also, Morrison did not work out like the Mariners were hoping for when they purchased him from the Miami Marlins. In many ways he turned out to be another Justin Smoak. I like the guy so I wish him well.

Danny Farquhar had a very disappointing 2015 like so many of the Mariner relievers. He spent a good part of the season with the Tacoma Rainiers in AAA. There is a possibility that he could bounce back this coming season but the Mariners have a lot of relievers they need to decide on whether to keep or not. Dipoto figured he was one that could be let go.

So whether this trade is successful or not I don’t see the Mariners losing out on it too much. Outside of Brad Miller the future of Logan Morrison and Danny Farquhar was not going to happen in Seattle. We will see if we will like the trade down the road; however, I see it at this point a win for the trade. We can only hope this is just the beginning of several transactions and trades this off-season. I am sure the Mariners could sign a free agent; however, I think it will only happen where they were not able to make a trade in an area of need.