It’s 2024 and the Seattle Mariners have woken out of their slumber making 2 notable trades with the San Francisco Giants and the Tampa Bay Rays acquiring a new starting pitcher and two outfielders to bolster a rather weaker offense.
Trade No. 1-
Seattle Mariners trade LHP Robbie Ray to the San Francisco Giants for RHP Anthony DeSclafani and outfielder Mitch Haniger.
The move makes a lot of sense when you look at both sides of the deal. The Mariners have an abundance of arms in their rotation and they are looking to lower payroll. Ray is coming into his age 32 season while still recovering from Tommy John surgery(which he’s projected to return around the all-star break). When he’s healthy he’s a Cy Young caliber pitcher which he won back in 2021 when he was with the Blue Jays. The Giants are in a win-now window so getting Ray as a #2 when he comes back healthy is perfect for a rotation that needed a high-leverage arm.
As for the return the Mariners received, they got RHP Anthony DeSclafani and Outfielder Mitch Haniger. DeSclafani is coming off a rough year pitching to a 4-8 record with a 4.88 ERA. Not great by any means but as a No. 5/swingman who’s had previous success and is only owed 12 million dollars this year before becoming a free agent it’s needed depth. Along with that, they bring back former friend Mitch Haniger who was also brutal last year, batting .209 in 211 at bats. Seattle desperately needed a veteran in that outfield to go along with Julio and the Giants had way more outfielders than they truly needed so it simply makes sense for Haniger to be moved.
Haniger has 2 years of 32.5 million left on his contract while Ray has 3 years at $73 million left. The Giants are also sending 6 million to Seattle to make the money work and to overall make the deal a win-win for each side.
Trade No. 2-
Seattle Mariners trade INF José Caballero to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for outfielder Luke Raley.
This move is as straightforward as it goes, Mariners needed one more offensive first player which Raley is as in 119 games last year he raked 19 home runs and 49 RBIs in 357 at-bats, hitting to a .249 average. The Rays need another option at short which Caballero is, who has a .221 average in 231 at-bats last season. His playing time on the Mariners would have been limited this season anyway with JP Crawford manning short, and Luis Urias and Josh Rojas at 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Overall I like both of the moves Seattle made, they get a back-end arm in DeSclafani and 2 proven outfielders in Haniger and Raley while giving up pieces in Ray and Caballero who wouldn’t help the team out much this season.