Mariners Analysis: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not

Jun 4, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners new first baseman Mark Trumbo (35) in the on deck circle in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Down: Mark Trumbo

Mark Trumbo was supposed to bring some more thump to this M’s lineup since he was traded, but his bat has been rather punchless. In the last seven days, he has gone 4-for-20 (.200) with just one homerun and four RBIs.

The M’s were hoping that Trumbo could come in and be a formidable bat in the middle of that lineup, but I’m afraid his best days of baseball are far behind him. He’s a strong dude, as seen with his homerun against the Astros on Saturday, but his bat seems slow right now. His slugging percentage is nothing to speak of, a rather weak .350. Most troubling of all, Trumbo has seven more strikeouts (17) than he does hits (10) in the month of June.

I never understood trading for the 29-year-old, as he brings many of the same qualities to the table as Jesus Montero, who is absolutely killing it in Triple AAA. Calling him up instead of making this trade would’ve made a lot more sense, and kept a couple valuable prospects in the M’s farm system. Unfortunately I don’t expect Trumbo to heat up anytime soon, and I look for this to be a trade we look back on in a couple years and shake our heads.

Next: J.A. Happ