Seattle Mariners: Jerry Dipoto’s 10 best trades with the M’s
Joe Swenson
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#6 Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak, Gerson Bautista, Jarred Kelenic, and Justin Dunn from NYM for Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, and Cash – December 3rd, 2018
This trade is ranked here less for the players Seattle received and more for signaling that the Mariners were in rebuild mode. They eventually flipped Dunn as part of the Winker/Suarez deal. Gerson Bautista is playing in the Mexican League and currently has a 28.35 ERA in 9 appearances. Swarzak is out of baseball, and Jay Bruce retired. Leaving Justin Dunn (Reds IL) and Jarred Kelenic (just called up by the Mariners) as the only active players left.
More importantly, the Mariners got rid of the Robinson Cano contract just before he tested positive for PEDs (again) and was suspended for a year. Sadly, Edwin Diaz needed to go to make the deal happen.
#5 J.P. Crawford and Carlos Santana from Philadelphia for Jean Segura, Juan Nicasio, and James Pazos – December 3, 2018.
December 3, 2018, was a busy day for the Mariners. It signaled that dipoto was taking Seattle in a different direction. The acquisition of defensive wizard J.P. Crawford proved to be one of the five best moves that Dipoto has made in his tenure as GM. Carlos Santana was flipped back to the Indians/Guardians two weeks later, but he eventually found his way back to the Mariners.
Crawford won a gold glove in 2020. He has proven to be more than a slick-fielding shortstop, he’s also the Mariners’ emotional leader.
A heck of an off-balance relay throw from J.P. Crawford to make an 85.4 mph heave and nab Isiah Kiner-Falefa at the plate to end the 2nd inning. pic.twitter.com/MLuEdqQLQY
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) August 3, 2022
#4 Marco Gonzales from St. Louis for Tyler O’Neill – July 21, 2017
The power-hitter for the finesse lefty that was coming back from Tommy John surgery. Marco Gonzales and Hanigar have been the Seattle Mariners’ constants since 2018. But more Marco than any other player on the Mariners roster.
To think that the Mariners have gone through such an overhaul that only two players remain on the squad five years later is a testament to how active of a GM Dipoto is.
Gonzales is also an emotional leader. While he’s struggling this year with little run support, his overall numbers since becoming a Mariner are really good, 53-42, 3.97 ERA. And his performance (7-2, 3.10 ERA) in the 2020 Covid-19 shortened season should’ve warranted Cy Young Award consideration.
In this one, the M’s had to give something to get something. Tyler O’Neill is a two-time Gold Glove winner and owns a .790 career OPS.