It is the first official move of the new regime under the direction of recently hired general manager Jerry Dipoto.
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The Mariners still have plenty of needs but I think Dipoto’s bargaining position is that much stronger with fewer needs behind him and the budget still as he said, “an open campus”.
Welcome to hot stove season, where Major League Baseball warms us all through the cold winter months with scalding trade rumors and warming chatter about deals all throughout the league. Powell brings speed, defense on 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. The Mariners acquired Farquhar along with D.J. Mitchell July 23, 2012, from the Yankees in exchange for Ichiro Suzuki, so his trade to the Rays officially closes the book on Ichiro. However, his season ended abruptly on September 8 after experiencing right forearm tightness with the Rays not in the American League playoff hunt. He struck out 145 batters in 147 pinnings pitched � the most of all AL rookies.
“He certainly has the type of bat that fits in the DH role, and we’re excited about that bat”, Silverman said. A second-round pick by the Mariners in 2011, Miller appeared in 343 games with Seattle over the past three seasons, batting. (.329), and was named the Mariners Unsung Hero by the Seattle Chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. “This was addressing a need”.
Powell could be the Mariners starting center fielder of the future. In 14.2 innings the lefty allowed 10 runs, three home runs, and owned an ERA of 5.12. The 22-year-old has virtually no power, but has shown high on-base percentages in the minors. Acquired alongside SS Daniel Robertson in the Ben Zobrist deal, Powell was a blip on the radar for most Rays fans in the previous year. Riefenhauser. Powell could be in the lineup by opening day.
Breaking in at the top of the order is not an easy thing to do but we saw Ketel Marte do it last season.
Riefenhauser, 25, made 17 appearances over four separate stints with the Rays in 2015, combining for a 1-0, 5.52 mark, all in relief.
“He’s neutralized left-handers throughout his minor league career”, Dipoto said. He’s good a decent arm, the kind of reliever the Rays like to take chances on.
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The Rays are hoping Miller turns into their long-term shortstop, or, at the very least, becomes a supersub who can capably play multiple positions. According to a report from MLB.com on Thursday (Nov. 5), there are six players involved in the deal. “He’s been a trade target and a guy that others have come after”. With just two years of major league service under his belt, Miller will not be arbitration eligible until the 2017 season and is controllable through the 2019 season. Brad could have surfaced for us as a super utility player or surfaced as a regular outfielder, but we would have been asking him to do something that was an entirely new learned skillset for him.
