Mariners make couple of multi-player trades prior to deadline

The trades include the Mariners moving two players who will elicit contrasting emotions from fans, in Paul Sewald and AJ Pollock.

Monday saw the Mariners move to within 3.5 games of a playoff spot, after an impressive 6-2 win over the Red Sox. However, the arguably bigger news came off the field, with a couple of multi-player trades.

As had been speculated recently, the Mariners did indeed move Paul Sewald, trading him to the Diamondbacks. In exchange, they received Josh Rojas, Dominic Canzone and Ryan Bliss.

A big loss for the Mariners

Losing Sewald is undoubtedly a bitter blow for Mariners players and fans alike. He was a major part of a bullpen which is ranked third in the Majors with a 3.63 ERA as of Tuesday morning.

On an individual level, the 33-year-old has been enjoying an excellent season. Highlights include career-bests of 21 saves and a — to date — 35.5 percent strikeout rate.

Sewald has also recorded a 2.93 ERA and 1.023 WHIP. He finishes his three seasons in Seattle with a 2.88 ERA and 0.926 WHIP in 171.2 combined innings (172 games).

The right-handed pitcher was understandably taken back by the trade. Speaking to the media, he said:

“I’m kind of still in shock of what happened while I was here. I came here thinking about Plan B and leave as a closer traded to a contender for three prospects. It’s kind of wild. I will be forever thankful for (the Mariners) changing how I pitch.”

Under fire President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto made sure to offer his appreciation for what Sewald did with the Mariners. He said:

“Paul was a huge part of an excellent ‘pen during his three years in Seattle. I’m forever thankful for his contributions, both on-and-off the field.”

A mixture of experience in return

Turning to who the Mariners received in exchange, Rojas has the most experience of the trio of players. This is his fifth year in the Majors and he offers defensive versatility, having started at second base, third base, shortstop, left field and right field. (He even pitched a couple of innings this season.)

Offensively, it must be noted this is projected to be the 29-year-old’s worst season since 2020, albeit not helped by injury issues. He has no home runs and 26 RBI to date, contributing towards a .228/.292/.296 slash line and .589 OPS.

The Mariners will obviously be hoping Rojas can return to the production he had his two previous years. As per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, he said:

“I’m excited to go to a contender; that’s exciting for me. We’ve got a lot of moving parts going on, but it’s going to be good to get settled in.”

Canzone also has big league experience, having made his Major League debut on July 7 this year. In 15 games he has one home run and eight RBI, with a .237/.293/.368 slash line and .661 OPS.

Prior to his call-up, the 25-year-old had been dominating in Triple-A, including hitting 16 home runs and 71 RBI. He produced a .354/.431/.634 slash line and 1.065 OPS, and — like Rojas — offers the advantage of being a left-handed bat.

Defensively, Canzone has started in right field for the Diamondbacks, but can also play in left field and at first base. He was Arizona’s 19th-rated prospect and will now rank 13th in the Mariners’ farm system.

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Good athletes

Mariners manager Scott Servais is encouraged by both players. Speaking to the media, he said:

“They’re very athletic players (and) good defenders. They can run. … Both guys hit the fastball very well against us in Arizona. Again, we’ll have to wait to see how things play out, but on paper, it looks like a good addition to our lineup.”

Completing the package is Bliss, a Minor Leaguer who can play at both second base and shortstop. This year he tore it up in Double-A, leading to a much-deserved promotion.

The right-handed bat has admittedly struggled so far in Triple-A, but the potential remains clear. The Mariners got an up-close look at him earlier this month, when he played in the Futures Game in Seattle.

The Diamondbacks selected Bliss in the second round of the 2021 draft and he now becomes the Mariners’ 14th-ranked prospect. Speaking about all three acquisitions, Dipoto said:

“Dominic, Josh and Ryan are excellent fits for our organization. Each brings something a bit different to the field with athleticism being a common denominator. We feel like this deal makes us a deeper, more well-balanced team, both now and moving forward.”

A more acceptable loss

In the other deal, the Mariners sent AJ Pollock and utility player Mark Mathias to the Giants, along with cash considerations. In return, they will receive either a player to be named later from the Giants’ farm system, or cash considerations.

Fair or not, the majority of Mariners fans will be happy to see Pollock go. He has been a major disappointment during his time in Seattle, after signing a one-year, $7 million deal prior to this season.

The 205 All-Star is well on course for the worst offensive season of his 12-year Major League career. He is currently on the Injured List with a left hamstring strain.

As for Mathias, he never actually played for the Mariners after being acquired off waivers from the Pirates earlier this month. He was selected by the Guardians in the third round of the 2015 draft, and has hit .249 with six home runs and 28 RBI in 68 games over three years in the Majors.

What is your take on the two trades in general? More specifically, did the Mariners really need to move Sewald? And what does this indicate about the overall philosophy for the remainder of the 2023 season? Let us know in the comments section below.