Seattle Mariners: One Big Deal Down, What’s Next?
On Monday, the Seattle Mariners made a big trade acquiring a couple of All-Stars. This deal also filled a few of the team’s needs. So what’s next for Jerry Dipoto?
To the delight of almost every Seattle Mariners fan, GM Jerry Dipoto made a big trade. Shipping out Justin Dunn, Jake Fraley, Brandon Williamson, and a player to be named later in exchange for Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez. If you don’t think this is a good trade for the M’s, then I have to wonder if baseball is the right sport for you?
Before this trade, Dipoto stated in his press conference that the Mariners wanted to acquire a power bat AND a left-handed bat. Suarez certainly fits the power hitter criteria with over 30 home runs in three of the last four years, and in the shortened 60-game 2020 season, he had 15.
Winker’s power has started to shine through the last couple of years. In 2020 he hit 12 home runs, and last year he hit 24. A big difference between these two players at the plate is Winker still provides a good batting average and on base percentage while Suarez is a poor man’s Kyle Seager.
After this trade, it’s probably about 50/50 if the Seattle Mariners will be able to land another big bat-like Nick Castellanos or Trevor Story. With Trader Jerry running the show M’s fans can’t rule out another trade either.
The downside
Circling back to Suarez being a poor man’s Seager comparison. The is another way they are different is Suarez led National League third basemen in errors in 2016, 2018, and 2019. The Seattle Mariners are also paying the remaining three years on his contract, which totals $35M. There is also a $15M club option for 2025.
Part of the price in acquiring Winker was the Seattle Mariners also had to take Suarez (and his hefty contract) off of Cincinnati’s hands. If Dipoto wants to upgrade at third base, then he will most likely have to pull off a similar move. This brings us to the now log jam in the outfield.
No player has hit more homers since 2018 than Eugenio Suárez, who has 129 in this stretch … Here are his 5⃣ longest: pic.twitter.com/NehYQ9UhV4
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) March 15, 2022