We have a trade. The Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners made a six-player deal. Greg Johns of MLB.com reports Brad Miller, Logan Morrison, and Danny Farquhar have been traded to the Rays while Nate Karns, C.J. Riefenhauser and Boog Powell go the Mariners’ way.
From the Rays’ perspective, the move gives them three big league players who will add depth to their squad.
Miller is the crown jewel of the trade. The 26-year-old had a solid 2015, posting 11 home runs with 13 stolen bases to go with a .258 batting average and a .329 OBP. Those numbers are nice, but what makes Miller valuable is his versatility. Initially an infielder who prominently played shortstop, Miller played all three outfield positions last year, and the Rays could be hoping they’ve found their next Ben Zobrist, a guy they can plug anywhere on the field.
Morrison will likely assume a platoon role at first base and DH. He hit 17 home runs, all against righties last season, but only batted .225 with a .302 OBP. His low numbers come from being awful against lefties, as he hit .190 against southpaws in 142 at-bats.
Farquhar, Seattle’s closer in 2013, had a terrible 2015 season, posting a 1-8 record with a 5.12 ERA. But in 2014, he was spectacular, and the Rays are hoping he can bounce back.
Jerry Dipoto’s first trade as the Mariners GM makes his team a tad younger, but all three players are major league ready or close.
“As I said when I was hired, we need to get more flexible, more athletic and build pitching depth,” Dipoto said in a press release. “This trade allows us to do all three. Powell brings speed, defense [and] on-base percentage to the table and could be ready to help us as soon as 2016, while Karns and Riefenhauser give us young, but experienced, pitching options.”
Powell, acquired by the Rays in last offseason’s Ben Zobrist trade, is the best prospect among the bunch. The 22-year-old outfielder has risen up the ranks quickly playing half of 2015 in Triple-A. He’s shown little power, with only six home runs in 294 minor league games, but gets on base a ton, sporting a .401 career OBP. He’s also a plus defender with some speed. He was, however, suspended 50 games for a positive amphetamine test in 2014. He’s got star or bust potential.
Riefenhauser is a 25-year-old reliever who made his debut in 2014 and has appeared in 24 career games. He was blown up in his early MLB career with a 6.75 ERA, while walking more batters (10) than he struck out. He’s been great in the minors, however, posting a 2.78 ERA in 2015 (right on line with his career 2.78 minor league ERA) with an 8.8 K/9 versus a 2.3 BB/9, prominently at AAA. He’s got a chance to be a big league reliever.
Karns, 27 was acquired by the Rays in 2014 for three players. He was a surprise for the team, starting 26 games, posting a 7-5 record with a 3.67 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 147 innings. His 4.09 FIP suggested he was getting hit harder than his stats indicated and he allowed 19 home runs, but he could be a useful piece in the middle of the Mariners rotation in 2016.
The trade makes sense for both teams. The Rays add to their major league roster while the Mariners get younger and add more potential.
Let the trade season commence!
