Seattle Mariners: Grading the M’s trade deadline deals
Taijuan Walker, Seattle Mariners.
The Seattle Mariners made several deals leading up to Monday’s MLB trade deadline. Our staff at Pacific Northwest Sports graded each trade.
Some Seattle Mariners fans were expecting the team to make a giant splash at the trade deadline. Others thought August 31 would pass with a whimper rather than a bang. What happened was something in the middle.
Seattle Mariners General Manager Jerry DiPoto had a busy few days leading up to Monday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline. In the end, he made three deals. DiPoto sent his starting catcher, number two starter, closer, and two setup men for more players who can be essential parts of the team’s future.
We asked our Pacific Northwest Sports contributors to grade each of the Mariners deadline trades.
Trade 1
Mariners deal starting pitcher Taijuan Walker to Toronto for a player to be named later or cash.
Ryan Bishop
This trade represents the maximum value from Walker that the Mariners hoped for at the start of the year. He pitched great innings for Seattle this year, was a strong leader, and leaves a reward in a player to be named later (PTBNL) with this departure.
For a six-game rental, the yield is solid. Walker will be available (again) in free agency this offseason. Grade: A.
Chris Phillips
If you look at the optics, we just took a FA and flipped him for what should be a good prospect from the Jays. Then we have the opportunity to resign Walker after the year. In theory, the Seattle Mariners get a good player and possibly Walker again next year to maybe do it all over again. Grade A.
Herb Nightengale
Walker rejoined the Seattle Mariners in 2020 after missing two seasons because of Tommy John surgery. In five starts with the M’s, he had a 2-2 record and 4.00 ERA. Because Seattle gets a PTBNL, it’s hard to give any grade other than an incomplete.
Ed Stein
I agree with Ryan and Chris that the M’s probably never imagined when they signed Walker last February as a free agent that they could flip him for anything of value. I’m not at all convinced that the trade is a home run because Seattle could have done much better than a player who isn’t even on Toronto’s extended 60-man roster.
Many teams needed starting pitchers, as evidenced by what went down at Monday’s deadline. In my opinion, DiPoto moved too early by trading Walker on Thursday. He could have gotten more for his number two starter if he waited a few days. It was a rare poor read of the market. The only thing that would raise my grade is if the cash part turned out to include a big chunk of international signing bonus money. Grade: D.