Mariners Make a Trade

On Monday the Mariners  made a

trade without giving up one of their

young pitchers while acquiring a

player from the Minnesota  Twins. 

The Mariners  acquired Jorge Polanco 

from the Twins  for four players. The 

two primary  players with major league 

experience  were Anthony Desclafani 

who the Mariners  had acquired  from

the Giants with Mitch Haniger and

reliever Justin  Topa who had a good 

season  in  Seattle  in  his only year

in a Mariners  uniform. Desclafani 

had been acquired  to add depth  to

the Mariners  starting  rotation.  With

the Twins he will start. Topa will be an 

added addition to the Twins bullpen. 

The Twins also received pitcher Darren

Bowen who pitched last year in the low

minors and is not among the Mariners 

top 30 prospects. They did receive #3

prospect outfielder  Gabriel Gonzales.

Though a tough player to give up the

Mariners  didn’t  give up any of their

top infield prospects  or catcher Harry 

Ford. We know the athletic ability of

Ford he could play many other positions 

other ball field.

Polanco should be the Mariners second

baseman though he can play third. Second

is his best position. Polanco missed half

of last year however the Mariners  feel his

injuries are behind him. This means Josh

Rojas and Luis Urias  will share or platoon

at third base. Rojas may play some second

when Polanco needs a day off. Polanco is

a switch hitter so we could see him dh on

occasion  against a right hander. We can see

Cal Raleigh  dh on occasion  against lefties 

on his day off at catcher. 

Mitch Garver is expected  to  be the main dh

on the season. He may catch on occasion.

How often depends whether  the Mariners  go

with two or three catchers on opening day.

The Mariners  do go with three catchers means 

Dylan  Moore  will be the fifth outfielder  and

utility player along with the third catcher, Rojas or 

Urias and Haniger or Dominic Canzone on the 

bench. The Mariners  could make another trade 

for another outfielder. 

The Mariners  could still  sign Seattle native 

Blake Snell to  a contract though will be costly

as a free agent. They could move  Bryce Miller 

or  Bryan Woo  to the bullpen as a long reliever.

Go M's.