Another Busy Day For Dipoto

 We should never be surprised by what Jerry Dipoto does for the Mariners. Wednesday he made two more trades to make it eleven for the off-seasons. He said that this should be it for the major league roster before spring training begins. I don’t think it would surprise us if that is not true. He does plan to add more to the minor league system.

Speaking of the minor leagues these two trades involved a couple of Mariner top minor league prospects. The first trade the Mariners made a trade with the Atlanta Braves sending them left handed pitchers Luiz Gohara and Thomas Burrows for right handed relief pitcher Shae Simmons and outfielder Mallex Smith.

Gohara was considered one of the Mariner’s top pitching prospects however has only pitched as high as single A so far. Mallex Smith who is a lot like the other outfielders the Mariners have gotten recently did not stick around long since he was dealt to the Tampa Rays along with infielder Carlos Vargas and left handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough who happened to be the Mariners minor league pitcher of the year. He pitches last year in double A and was expected to pitch this season at triple A. The Mariners received left handed starter Drew Smyly from the Rays. Smyly will be considered the fourth or fifth starter for the Mariners. He has had a solid career though last year was an off year for him having an era of 4.88 though he did start thirty games for the Rays. If he gets any place close to thirty starts for the Mariners they will be very pleased.

The Mariner’s starting rotation right now looks like Felix Hernandez, Iwakuma, James Paxton, Yovani Gallardo who they picked up last week from the Baltimore Orioles and Smyly. Ariel Miranda who had been penciled in as the fifth starter will likely go to the bullpen as a long reliever. I expect at some point he will start some games for the Mariners since not all pitchers stay healthy. The Mariners do have some other pitchers that they have added to the depth of the rotation in case of injuries.

Shae Simmons who was picked up in the first trade from Atlanta will get a shot in the Mariners’ bullpen. Last season because of injuries Simmons only pitched six games in September. His previous major league experience with the Atlanta Braves in 2014 where he relieved in twenty-six games with an era of 2.91; he pitched a total of  twenty-one  and two/thirds innings striking out twenty three batters. I am sure the Mariners would not complain if he could get similar statistics as long as it is for more games and innings. Where he may fit in the bullpen we will see during spring training. Another good job Dipoto though it would have been nice to get a number 1, 2 or three starter I will still take it. Go Mariners!