Taylor Trammell, Seattle Mariners. (Photo by Marshall Dunlap, via Flickr)
Taijuan Walker, Seattle Mariners.
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.
Mariners deal starting pitcher Taijuan Walker to Toronto for a player to be named later or cash.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Austin Nola, Seattle Mariners.
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.
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+.
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+.
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+.
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.
Taylor Williams, Seattle Mariners.
The M’s make another deal with San Diego sending closer Taylor Williams to the Friars for pitcher Matt Brash.
Once DiPoto saw that guys like Tommy Milone and Austin Nola were receiving maximum value at the trade deadline, he took advantage. Like Adams and Altavilla, Williams probably had a decent future in Seattle, but Matt Brash is eight years younger and potentially better. Grade B.
As a writer, I’m going to miss the “local kid makes good “angle with Camas, WA native Taylor Williams. I had to look up Matt Brash because he’s not on many top prospects lists. The Padres fourth-round draft pick from 2019 has a slightly above average heater that mixes with a decent change, slider, and curve. According to reports, Brash has cleaned up his delivery since he turned pro.
That’s a pretty good return for a guy with a career 5.34 ERA (5.93 in 2020) the Seattle Mariners picked up off the waiver wire in February. Grade B.
Toronto buys designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach from the Seattle Mariners alternate site.
A no-win situation. Vogelbach represents the first player from this rebuild that has fizzled out. It was nice to get something back, but he isn’t much of a loss at this point since it opens some space on the roster. Grade C.
Any money Toronto put up for “The Hefty Lefty” over $20 is an overpayment. I would have happily accepted a six-pack of undershirts and a few cases of hair care products for Vogelbach to open a roster slot. Grade B+.
How would you grade the Seattle Mariners deadline trades? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.