Mariners News: Dipoto Trades Mark Trumbo Again!

Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Dipoto has reportedly traded Mark Trumbo and a second player to the Baltimore Orioles for Steve Clevenger.

Oops he did it again…  For the second time Jerry Dipoto has traded Mark Trumbo.  The first time Dipoto traded Trumbo was when he was the GM of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  He traded Trumbo to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three team deal including the Chicago White Sox.  Now as one of his first year moves with the Mariners he has traded Trumbo yet again.  This time to the Baltimore Orioles.

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It suffices to say that the 29 year old Trumbo just wasn’t in Jerry Dipoto’s plan in the outfield or at first base.   Offensively he provided a good amount of power, but defensively he didn’t meet Dipoto’s philosophy of being a very athletic and above average defensive player.  In 2015, between Arizona and Seattle, he had a slash line of .262/.310/.449 and clubbed 22 home runs from the right side of the plate.  The most pressing issue was that he was going to cost the Mariners $9.1 million in 2016

Mar 7, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Steve Clevenger (45) works out before a spring training baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

through arbitration.  It is clear here that Jerry has plans to spend this money elsewhere.

Steve Clevenger achieved a slash line of .287/.314/.426 in 105 plate appearances in Baltimore last season from the left side of the plate.  He is a right handed catcher and first baseman.  The 5-foot-10 Maryland native provides a left handed catcher to complement Chris Iannetta, as Steve Adams reports.  He is out of minor league options and made $514,000 in 2015.

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This trade is clearly a salary dump for the Seattle Mariners more than anything else.  Mark Trumbo didn’t have a place on this roster in 2016.  The deal is not yet official even though it has been announced and there are still details to be confirmed.  The deal has to be done before the Wednesday 9 pm arbitration deadline.  There is a second player going to the Orioles per Greg Johns.

This is a bold move for Jerry Dipoto and the Mariners.  Probably the boldest move he’s made to date with the Seattle Mariners.  With all the trades that have been done to this point this roster evolution has turned into a major overhaul.  It’s not quite a rebuild, but it is a major overhaul.  Mariners fans will be upset and Orioles fans elated.  But keep in mind that this is Jerry Dipoto’s team.  Difficult moves have to be made to make other more palatable moves possible.  Jerry Dipoto is up to the task.  Can these changes get the Seattle Mariners into the playoffs?  Stay tuned to watch the story unfold.

New Update:

The deal isn’t quite finalized but second player going to Baltimore has been announced.  It’s LHP CJ Riefenhauser that was acquired in the trade with Tampa Bay.

Sep 4, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher C.J. Riefenhauser (34) pitches during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. New York Yankees won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports