*Photo from Red Reporter*
You thought the Matt Olson trade was the biggest trade? No, people actually saw that one coming. This one, not so much. The Seattle Mariners have acquired OF Jesse Winker and 3B Eugenio Suarez from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for RHP Justin Dunn, OF Jake Fraley, LHP Brandon Williamson, and a player to be named later, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Both teams have confirmed the trade.
Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said of the trade that "We feel like these guys make our lineup longer and a lot more ominous. We feel like it gives us the lineup depth that playoff teams have, and that was a goal of ours heading into the offseason. We tried a lot of different avenues, so to speak, and over the course of the last three or four days drove down a lot of dead ends, spun around in a number of different cul-de-sacs. The one thing that was constant was the interaction with the Cincinnati Reds."
Joining Seattle, Winker will immediately slot in as the starting left fielder, which he did very well with the Reds. He has two years of arbitration left, and will hit free agency after the 2023 season. He is projected to earn $6.25 million in arbitration this season.
Last season, despite being limited partially by injury, Winker still turned in an all star season, making his first all star game by hitting .305 with a .949 OPS, slugging a torrid .556 and hitting 24 home runs, to go along with 71 RBI's in 110 games for the Reds.
In his career, spanning 5 seasons, all with the Reds, Winker has a .288 batting average and .888 OPS, slugging .504 and hitting 66 homers, driving in 190 runs in 413 regular season games. Winker's only playoff experience came in two games in the 2020 wild card round, where the Reds lost to the Atlanta Braves.
Winker said of joining the Mariners that "It’s an opportunity to win. It’s an opportunity to win a division and play in the postseason. I’ve been looking forward to that opportunity for my whole life. It’s kind of a whirlwind. I’m excited. It’s going to be fun. Everybody in Cincinnati, I’ve always said it, but I mean it, it’s going to hold a special place in my heart. I will be there in the offseason to pick up my daughter. I will be there in the offseason. I love that zoo. I love Coffee Emporium. There are some other beautiful places there. Everybody going forward, I hope you fall in love with that city because it’s a special place."
By acquiring Suarez, the Mariners find their starting 3rd baseman to account for the loss of Kyle Seager, who retired during the lockout. Suarez struggled in the field last season, as well as at the plate, and the Mariners are banking on him turning it around, as they are taking on the entirety of his contract.
Last season, Suarez struggled, hitting just .198 with a .713 OPS, slugging .428 and hitting 31 home runs, driving in 79 while playing in 145 games. The home runs and slugging percentage are of no concern, but hitting below the Mendoza line is a big concern.
Suarez said of joining the Mariners that "My heart is staying in Cincinnati. Now I represent the Seattle Mariners and I will do my best for them now, like I did in Cincinnati. This is not easy. It’s tough. But I understand and I know this game is like that. I feel so grateful. My family and I, we appreciate everything the Cincinnati Reds did for me, the Queen City did for me."
The key piece of the return for the Reds is Williamson, the Mariners 7th ranked prospect, and 2019 second round draft pick. Between High A Everett and Double A Arkansas, Williamson finished last season with a 4-6 record and a 3.39 ERA, making 19 starts.
Dunn is a former first round pick of the New York Mets in 2016, and has appeared in 25 career major league games, spread across 3 seasons. Dunn has a career 5-4 record with a 3.94 ERA and 1.35 WHIP, striking out 92 hitters while walking 69 of them in 102 2/3 innings, all 25 of his games being starts.
Like Dunn, Fraley has had his major league time spread over 3 seasons, but his 78 games in 2021 were by far the most in a season. In his 3 seasons, Fraley has a paltry .196 batting average and .656 OPS, hitting 9 home runs to go along with 37 RBI's, stealing 12 bases in 97 games.
Reds GM Nick Krall said of trading Winker and Suarez that "This wasn't just a payroll move. This was a move that we looked at from a future standpoint and we also looked at it as a move to bring back some talent right now. We really think Brandon Williamson is going to be on this club. The player to be named later is also a player we like, so it’s not just a throw-in there. We have a couple of months to be able to scout a group of players before we choose one. We’re excited about doing the deal. It also opens up the payroll flexibility and we just have to figure out where we can get better."
In Seattle, Winker will start in left field, with Mitch Haniger in right and Jarred Kelenic likely in center, with Kyle Lewis working his way back from injury. Suarez starts at 3rd, which shifts Abraham Toro to a backup role. In Cincinnati, Dunn, Fraley, and Williamson will all have a shot to win roster spots.
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