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Mariners’ general manager Jerry Dipoto hasn't been shy about making trades since taking over as the team’s GM in 2015. In fact, since he took the reigns of the M’s, no general manager in the league has consummated more swaps.
He was back at it again on Friday, sending minor league right-handers Andrew Moore and Tommy Romero to the Rays in return for closer Alex Colome and outfielder Denard Span.
Dipoto hasn’t been shy about preaching the Mariners’ desire to remain competitive, even after last week’s suspension to Robinson Cano. Friday’s trade helps to confirm that take while solving two of the biggest weaknesses on their roster.
With Cano out for 80 games while serving his suspension, the Mariners are left with a massive hole in their lineup. They have already shifted Dee Gordon back to second base to cover for him, but that created a hole in the outfield as well.
Enter: Denard Span.
The 34-year-old hasn’t been a world-beater thus far this season by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s a proven veteran who can handle all three outfield positions defensively and still has a bit of power and speed remaining. Prior to the trade, he was hitting .238/.364/.385 with four homers, 28 RBI and six stolen bases in 43 games with the Rays.
Dipoto came out shortly after the trade was finalized, noting that Span would primarily play left field for the Mariners while Guillermo Heredia would get a long look in center field. Mitch Haniger continues to put up monster numbers for the M’s in right field.
While shocked by the move, Span took it in stride on Friday "I'm just happy that I have a job and somebody wants me. So I'm looking forward to going to Seattle, even though it hasn't sunk in yet. I'm looking forward to this new challenge. …They're in a position to win. They saw an opportunity to get myself and Colome. They're trying to win over there."
The bigger part of the deal from the M’s perspective though is Alex Colome. The 29-year-old has racked up 95 saves over the past three seasons as the Rays’ closer and provides a lock-down setup man that’s capable of getting the ball to all-world closer Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning. He hasn’t been terrific this season, compiling a 4.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 23/8 K/BB ratio across his 21 ⅔ innings of work, but his elite stuff remains intact and he represents a substantial upgrade to the M’s bullpen.
Mariners’ manager Scott Servais spoke glowingly about the deal on Friday, telling reporters "I think it's an awesome message that [despite] everything we've dealt with in the last 8 to 10 days here, that we're all in on this season, that even though we had a setback with Robbie and the injury and suspension, it's not going to derail us. Our eyes are set on the goal and that's getting to the playoffs and I think this helps us."
As far as the return package for the Rays, it begins with 23-year-old right-hander Andrew Moore. A second round draft pick of the Mariners from the 2015 draft class, Moore owns a 3.04 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 47/14 K/BB ratio across 50 1/3 innings at Double-A Arkansas this season. He has struggled in his limited exposure to the big leagues, but his upside remains sky-high.
The Rays also picked up Tommy Romero in the deal. The 20-year-old is much more of a project than Moore is and significantly farther away from making an impact at the major league level, there is a lot to like here though. He owns a 2.27 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 105/30 K/BB ratio across 87 ⅓ innings between the Mariners Rookie League club and Class-A Clinton.
From a fantasy perspective, Colome was the only impact name to change teams here on Friday. Make no mistake about it, this was devastating blow to Colome owners. Sure, there was a high likelihood that he could be dealt prior to the trade deadline, but most thought they would get at least another month's worth of saves out of him first.
One man’s loss is another man’s gain though, and with Colome out of the picture, someone will be garnering save chances in the Rays’ bullpen. Those that are speculating on saves will have to try to read the tea leaves to see in which direction manager Kevin Cash is going to turn next. If I had to attach my wagon to one of those hurlers, it would be 23-year-old southpaw Jose Alvarado.He boasts a 2.95 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 23/9 K/BB ratio over 21 ⅓ innings on the season and with other viable left-handers in the bullpen the Rays have the leverage to make it work.
