Seattle Mariners: Grading the M’s trade deadline deals
Austin Nola, Seattle Mariners.
Trade 2
In a seven-player swap, the Seattle Mariners send catcher Austin Nola and relievers Dan Altavilla and Austin Adams to San Diego in exchange for outfielder Taylor Trammell, catcher Luis Torrens, relief pitcher Andres Munoz, and infielder Ty France.
Ed Stein
Wow, DiPoto did a great job on this trade. Earlier this month, I wrote how the M’s were misusing Austin Nola. On paper, he’s catcher. In reality, he’s an infielder who can play catcher.
Nola is enjoying a great season at the dish with a .306 average and .904 OPS. Meanwhile, Adams is having a hard time in his recovery from last year’s ACL surgery and is unlikely to pitch this season. Altavilla has a great arm, no one will argue that. I was high on him coming into the season, but whatever “it” is that separates a thrower from a pitcher, he doesn’t have.
Listening to DiPoto on the radio Monday, during the game, fired me up more than I already was about this trade. Trammell is supposed to be the biggest prize, but I don’t know where he fits into the M’s outfield of the future.
I like France, and he can be just as an effective hitter as Nola is. Munoz threw a triple-digit heater before Tommy John surgery last March. He probably won’t pitch for the Mariners until mid-summer 2021 at the earliest. Torrens is a wild card; M’s fans will find out what he has because the 24-year-old will be a big part of the team for the rest of this season, according to DiPoto. Grade B+.
Herb Nightengale
The Nola deal is a B+ right now without anything else going on. If Munoz becomes the Mariners closer or any of the three other players become a starter, or do anything significant, then the trade ends up an A.
I don’t expect Torrens to be the starting catcher but he will make for a good backup. France is the DH for now as well as the backup third baseman and first baseman. Taylor Trammell could be the Mariners fourth outfielder or traded for another piece of the puzzle. Grade B+.
Chris Phillips
France is either Kyle Seager’s replacement or the future second baseman. Munoz is the next Edwin Diaz (the Seattle version). I’m not as high on Trammell as my colleagues, but he is a useful trade chip to have. If Jarred Kelenic or Julio Rodriguez don’t pan out, Trammell can be a starting outfielder. Torrens will push Cal Raleigh for the starting job a year or two from now. Grade B+.
Ryan Bishop
Dipoto took full advantage of an overstocked Padres team that drove the market this year to a high level. While the return doesn’t necessarily fit specific needs in Seattle, there are plenty of quality players the Mariners received in return. The fact that Nola and Adams were brought into Seattle as reclamation projects make this trade a big win. Grade B.
Next: Page 3 – M’s trade with SD again