3 Spring Training Trade Targets for Seattle Mariners

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As free agents continue to find homes during Spring Training, the Mariners have remained eerily quiet. Today, we discuss a few possibilities of late Spring Training trade targets.

Mariners fans should be somewhat familiar with these type of deals. 2 of the most notable types of these trades came fairly recently. First, when Jack Zduriencik traded Erasmo Ramirez in late March 2015 to the Rays for Mike Montgomery.

The other, and probably best example, came from March in 2016, when Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto traded cash to the Padres for Nick Vincent. These types of deals happen every year, and there are typically come under 2 circumstances.

First, an injury late in Spring Training forces a team to go out and find a suitable replacement for a short time. However, with the number of quality free agent’s still available for anybody to sign, we could see less of these types of trades.

Second, teams trading a player with no minor league options remaining who doesn’t make the team and who will not slide through waivers. These are the most common types of March trades, and it is possible we will see a few of these this Spring Training.

As the Mariners roster sits now, they already need help in the rotation, and could probably use a veteran outfielder to boot. They have been quiet recently. However, Dipoto has always been aggressive. Could he make yet another trade?

Finding these the players who check one of the boxes above is not easy. All teams look for these opportunities. The likelihood of making this type of trade is slim… at least for now.

Let us begin our search for said players, in the place where the Mariners need the most help.

Mike Montgomery, SP Chicago Cubs

CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 17: Mike Montgomery /

Mariners fans should be quite familiar with Mike Montgomery. Acquired in March of 2015 for Erasmo Ramirez, Montgomery performed well for Seattle until he was traded in July of 2016 for Dan Vogelbach.

Montgomery served as the Cubs swing man over the past 1.5 seasons. He won a World Series title with the Cubs in 2016, pitching a scoreless 10th to give the Cubs their first title in 108 years. In 130 innings over 14 starts and 30 relief appearances, Montgomery pitched pretty well. He posted a 3.38 ERA, with a 4.07 FIP and a 1.3 WAR.

The left-handed pitcher has 3 quality pitches, as his 92 mph fastball, along with his changeup and curveball grades as above average. He will throw his cutter to RHH, and is a serviceable 4th pitch. Montgomery has a starters repertoire, but the Cubs do not have a place in their rotation for him.

Montgomery has stated he want’s to know his role for 2018 in order to protect his arm, and would like to find his way back into the rotation. Unless the Cubs are willing to go to a 6 man rotation, Montgomery could find a new home late in Spring Training.

The Mariners have consistently said they like their depth, but they are already on thin ice. Erasmo Ramirez has yet to begin throwing, and the lat injury could force Ramirez to start the season on the DL.

In addition, the Mariners appear to have dodged a bullet after Felix Hernandez was struck in the arm by a line drive. Seattle is optimistic he will only miss one start, but that is up in the air.

Adding Montgomery could help the Seattle in both the short-term and long-term. He still has 3 years of club control. in 2017, “MiMo” was better as a starter, posting a 2.67 K/BB rate and 4.01 XFIP in the rotation, compared to a 1.29 K/BB rate in the ‘pen.

Montgomery is also an elite ground ball guy, posting a remarkable 57.8% GB rate. Adding another ground ball starter, with solid upside makes the Mariners better rather Erasmo is healthy or not.

Blake Swihart C/LF, Boston Red Sox

We all know Jerry Dipoto loves older prospects who are proven producers in the high minors. If that player has some Major League experience, even better. Just look at Ariel Miranda, Mitch Haniger, and Ben Gamel to name a few.

This spring, the former highly touted prospect Blake Swihart, will likely find himself on a new team. The Mariners should be in on this opportunity.

Currently, Seattle has a competition for it’s back up catcher spot. The contenders include Twitter fan favorite Mike Marjama, David Frietas, and Tuffy Gosewhich. Marjama is seen as the favorite, and appears to have the trust of the Mariners coaching staff.

However, what none of the other backup contenders offer is the versatility Swihart brings. First, Swihart is a switch hitting catcher. Having a lefty catcher on the bench is always nice. Well, that’s at least what Bill Kruger thinks.

Second, Swihart is, by all accounts, an impressive defensive catcher. But perhaps most appealing is Swihart’s ability to patrol the outfield. In fact, he has logged 113.2 innings in left field, and produced a 8.0 UZR/150.

Obviously, the small sample size alert is in effect. But the fact that Swihart might be able to provide any decent outfield defense can really help a team that plans to carry 13 pitchers into the season.

Offensively, Swihart was lauded for his hit tool, and in 2014, appeared to be one of the bright young stars ready to make his impact in 2015. He slashed .293/.341/.469 between AA and AAA. He made his debut in 2015, and put up the respectable slash of .274/.319/.392 in 309 PA’s.

Then, as it is prone to do, the injury bug took bite after bite at Swihart, who managed to play just 106 games combined in 2016 and 2017 across AAA and the big leagues.

As a result, Swihart is out of options, and is in danger of heading to the waiver wire. The Mariners may be content with their backup spot, but both Marjama and Frietas have multiple options left, and Swihart could be a higher upside play to consider.

Jesus Aguilar, 1B Milwaukee Brewers

Much like Blake Swihart, there is a pretty big asterisk next to this possibility. IF Ryon Healy is truly ready by Opening Day ( or there abouts), Jesus Aguilar doesn’t make a lot of sense. But after the Brewers went all in this offseason (take note Jerry), there simply isn’t any room for all of the Brewers OF and 1B.

They may look to shop Eric Thames. However, they would be better served to hold onto him, less something happens to their outfield. Aguilar can only handle first base, and is out of Minor League options. So why with the likes of Mike Ford and Dan Vogelbach in camp, would the Mariners consider adding Aguilar.

He is better than both of the other guys? In 2017, he slashed .265/.331/.505 in 311 PA with 16 homers. Good, and honestly, pretty Ryon Healy like. Give Aguilar 500 PA’s, and he hits 20-25 HR’s.

Aguilar is only as valuable to the Mariners as long as Healy, or God forbid Nelson Cruz, are hurt. Aguilar is particularly good against LHP, slashing .301/.365/.524 against them, good for a 127 wRC+.

Graded as a poor defender, Aguilar still provides value as a platoon mate for Vogelbach or Ford in the event Healy suffers a set back. Carrying 2 first baseman is not ideal, though Aguilar holds his own against RHP, slashing .244/.311/.494 with a 104 wRC+ against them.

Healy appears to be on schedule after his surgery to remove bone spurs in his hand. The likelihood of the Mariners needing Aguilar are slim, but he will be available should the necessity rise.

Next: Robinson Cano Worth Every Penny

The Mariners are still not good enough to be taken seriously as a wild card contender. Most projections have them as an 80-82 win team. While none of these additions put them over the top, they could push the team closer to achieving its stated goal.

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