Mariners Make Big Trade

First of all wish every Seattle Mariner fan a Happy Thanksgiving. Hopefully this trade will make us more thankful and the Mariners more of a contender for 2017.

The Seattle Mariners made a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thanksgiving Eve to get a veteran though still young shortstop. The Mariners not only gave up shortstop Ketel Marte they had to finalize the deal by trading their top pitching prospect over the last four years TaiJuan Walker. Sometimes to get what you really want you have to give something good in return. In return the Mariners received Jean Segura who played second base for the Diamondbacks last season however he is projected to be a pretty good shortstop. The Mariners plan for Segura to be the leadoff hitter besides playing shortstop. He will be added to the core group of Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager. He is under arbitration for two more years before he can become a free agent. Segura not only is a good hitter he has speed and power. The Mariners also acquired outfielder Mitch Haniger who has limited major league experience however he is a right handed hitter who has played right field. He may platoon with Ben Gamel or Seth Smith. The Mariners got left handed reliever Zac Curtis in the trade as well. He doesn’t have much major league experience either but both him and Haniger could be part of the Mariners future.

We all know the potential of both TaiJuan Walker and Ketel Marte. Walker likely could become a number one starter in another couple seasons. This leaves James Paxton as the guy moving up the chain in the Mariners starting rotation after King Felix Hernandez and Iwakuma. I thought that the Mariners would have to go after a top rotation guy anyway but this is more of a sure thing now. Marte on the other hand not sure where he ends up; he likely will start 2017 in triple A for the Diamondbacks. He could be the future second baseman for them in place of Segura. Second base may be his better position however with the Mariners that was not going to happen with Robinson Cano being around for some time.

The Mariners now look like more of a veteran team along with a look of being younger in the outfield. It could take the Mariners a couple years where they truly want to be in the outfield. They have become more athletic that is for sure. Danny Valencia likely going to be the right handed platoon hitter at first base. His versatility will allow him to play in the outfield as well if the Mariners need him out there too. At this time it is hard to know where the Mariners will need him the most. A lot will depend on Gamel, Haniger and Heredia who is the other part of the equation. There still is a possibility that the Mariners could bring in another veteran outfielder but at this time that is not a priority.

The winter meetings will be coming up in a couple weeks so it will be interesting what the Mariners and Dipoto will do during that time. I expect that the Mariners will go for a top starting rotation pitcher along with another reliever especially left handed. Go M’s.